Lions, Blazers rev up hopes

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda and St. Benilde pulled off a pair of lopsided victories at the Filoil EcoOil Arena yesterday to go into the second round of the NCAA Season 99 eliminations with high hopes of going all the way.

The Lions drew strength from its troika of Jacob Cortez, Jomel Puno and Yulkien Andrada in routing the Generals, 86-72, for a 7-2 record, which is good for second behind No. 1 Mapua (8-1).

The Blazers likewise had a lopsided triumph that came at the expense of last year’s finals conquerors, the Letran Knights, 68-55, to jump into joint fifth with the Generals on 5-4 marks.

Cortez came alive in the third quarter when he erupted for nine of his total 17 points in breaking the backs of a Letran team that continued to disappoint with just a 1-8 slate to show.

Puno, for his part, chalked up his third straight double-double performance with 11 points and the same number of rebounds, while Andrada finished with 14 points.