Opensa, depensa armas ng San Beda

Malinaw kung ano ang ipinanalo ng San Beda sa Game One kontra Arellano University.

Pinagsamang opensa at depensa ang naging armas ng Red Lions para makauna sa kanilang best-of-three Finals ng 92nd NCAA seniors men’s basketball tournament na ginanap sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City.

Sina Jio Jalalon at Kent Salado ang matitikas na guard tandem ngayong collegiate basketball, pero nakagawa ng paraan ang Red Lions para mapahirapan silang pumuntos.

Nagtulong sina Robert Bolick at team captain Dan Sara para bantayan ang ipinagmamalaki ng Chiefs na sina Jalalon at Salado.

“They’re the best backcourt duo not just in the NCAA but also in the whole of the country.” patungkol ni Jarin kina Jalalon at Salado. “They can’t be stopped but we can try to make it difficult for them and make them work even more.”

“So credit the whole team for making it work and also these two guys,” dagdag ni Jarin kina Bolick at Sara.

Si Bolick ang tumutok kay Jalalon sa buong laro habang nakaatang kay Sara na limitahan si Salado.

Sa bandang huli, nagmintis si Jalalon sa mga critical shots at napuwersa na ipasa ang bola kay Dioncee Holts na nagmintis sa potential game-clinching jumper.

“I wouldn’t have done it without the support of the whole team, it was our team defense that made it possible not just myself,” wika ni Bolick.

Napagod si Salado sa mahigpit na pagbabantay sa kanya ni Sara kaya nagmintis siya ng dalawa sa tatlong freebies sa stretch at nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang Lions.

“It took mo so long to get back from playing like this because I was injured early in the season,” ani Sara. “I thank coach (Jarin) for being patient with mel.”

( ARABELA PRINCESS DAWA )