Games Tomorrow (The Arena, San Juan)

10 a.m. — JRU vs Arellano (Jrs)

11:45 a.m. — Perpetual vs AUF (Jrs)

2 p.m. — JRU vs Arellano (Srs)

4 p.m. — Perpetual vs AUF (Srs)

Garvo Lanete came through with another heady performance as defending champion San Beda College clobbered College of St. Benilde, 86-66, in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan City.

The 6-foot-2 Lanete, brother of Ginebra’s Chico Lanete, finished with a team-high 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field on top four assists, three rebounds and a steal in leading the Red Lions to their first back-to-back wins in four games.

Lanete’s performance was a fitting sequel to his 20-point production against Arellano as the Lions sent the Blazers to their second loss in four games. The Red Lions improved their record to 3-1 – half-a-game behind leaders Jose Rizal University and San Sebastian College.

In other senior game, Letran Knights banked on a sizzling third quarter attack to roll back Mapua Cardinals, 73-51, for their second win after four outings.

With PBL veterans Rey Guevarra and RJ Jazul at the firing end, the Knights tore the game wide apart with their brilliant one-on-one forays. The high-leaping Guevarra finished with 18 points while Jazul added 15.

So fluid was San Beda’s offense it registered 25 assists – the most by a team this season. Their defense was equally impressive they tallied four blocks and four steals.

The game was close only in the first two quarters that saw the Red Lions post a slim 35-29 lead at halftime. But when they hit their stride, they padded their lead to 70-55.

"We proved here that we can play a lot better against a zone defense," said San Beda mentor Frankie Lim.

By dominating the boards, 62-34, the Red Lions posted 17 fastbreak points that helped them pull away from the Blazers in the fourth.

"I’m very happy for him. He’s very talented and responsible. He makes good decision on the court," said Lim of Lanete, who also had two triples.

He was ably supported by Eduardo Tecson, Jake Pascual and Borgie Hermida and Adler Dela Rosa, who all scored in double digits — most of them came in the fourth where they produces several spurts.

The Blazers also didn’t have an answer for San Beda’s American "import" Sudan Daniel, who finished in double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds on top of four blocks and three assists.