Oftana leads Lions’ mauling of Blazers
Credit to Author: JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA| Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2019 16:16:22 +0000
Calvin Oftana notched a new career-high record of 27 points as San Beda University thrashed College of St. Benilde (CSB), 88-57, moving to just a win away from a first-round sweep in Season 95 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors basketball tournament on Friday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Oftana registered a 77 percent (10-of-13) shooting from the field plus a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. It was the three-time titlist Red Lions’ eighth win in as many outings.
“I just want to win and keep improving every game,” said the fourth-year veteran forward, who eclipsed his previous 20 points output in their 88-73 rout of finals rival Lyceum of the Philippines University last Tuesday.
Oftana came off the bench outscoring CSB’s entire starting five before igniting San Beda’s 49 percent (34-of-70) field goal shooting built on a 56 percent (23-of-41) shooting from the two-point area and 38 percent (11-of-29) from the three-point territory.
But it was the Lions’ smothering defense that impressed multi-titled coach Boyet Fernandez as his wards limited the Blazers to a season-low scoring output of 31 percent.
“We also played really good defense the whole game. As what I’ve said, our defense will bring us wherever we want to go and that shows today,” said Fernandez, whose squad has not lost a game since its 66-73 defeat to Lyceum in their first round encounter last season on August 21, 2018.
AC Soberano tallied 14 points anchored on four treys while James Kwekuteye chipped in 11 markers, seven rebounds and four assists.
Led by Oftana, Soberano and Evan Nelle, San Beda zoomed to a 44-25 lead in the first half that saw the ejection of CSB coach TY Tang due to two consecutive technical fouls (entering the court and unsportsmanlike behavior).
The Lions pounced on the demoralized Blazers early in the second half, posting their biggest buffer at 64-33 on Oftana’s back-to-back layups off Nelle’s dimes with 3:09 left in the third quarter.
San Beda cruised unchallenged from that point onward.
Justin Gutang and Cameroonian center Clement Leutcheu were the only double-digit scorers with 10 points apiece for CSB, which fell to No. 3. It was the Blazers’ second straight setback for an overall 5-2 record.