Defending champion San Beda boosted its Final Four campaign with a lopsided 89-59 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College on Wednesday, Nov. 6, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

The Red Lions dictated the pace throughout, never allowing the Generals to lead with Emman Tagle and Bismarck Lina pacing the crew on their way to their second straight victory and 10th overall against five defeats.

“This win is very important to our confidence,” said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta.

With the win, the Red Lions tightened their grip on the third spot as they inched closer to joining early semifinalists College of St. Benilde and Mapua.

It was also a sweet revenge for San Beda, which succumbed to EAC when the two first collided in the first round, 68-55, last Sept. 17.

The difference from this one was they have an additional big body inside in the bullstrong Lina, who had to skip most of the opening round to full recover from injury.

“Anything you have a big man it really helps,” said Escueta.

The Generals, meanwhile, stumbled to a 7-8 mark, putting them in a three-way logjam at fourth with the Letran Knights and the Lyceum Pirates that further intensified the race for the remaining semis seats.

Tagle shone for the Red Lions with 20 points spiked by five triples, while Lina unloaded 18 points -- six coming from the charity stripe.

San Beda waxed hot early by taking a 24-17 lead in the opening quarter and continued its scoring rampage at the half, outscoring EAC, 24-12, for a commanding 48-29 upperhand.

As if it was not enough, the Red Lions shackled the Generals with their stifling defense, limiting EAC to only six points in the third to maintain their pace with a 66-35 advantage.

The Generals failed to recover since then.

King Gurtiza and Harvey Pagsanjan led EAC’s scorers, though, they were limited to 10 points apiece.

In the other game, Mapua relied on Marc Cuenco’s hand that rocked the cradle as it ripped University of Perpetual Help apart, 71-57, to extend its streak to six.

Cuenco sizzled behind the arc where he drained a whopping six booming treys and finished with a game-high 21 points as the Cardinals continued to remain untouchable in the second round in six games to improve to 12-3.

The Altas skidded to 6-10.

The scores:

First Game

SAN BEDA 89 – Tagle 20, Lina 18, Andrada 14, Royo 9, Puno 9, Songcuya 6, Tagala 5, Gonzales 3, Payosing 3, RC Calimag 2, Estacio 0, Bonzalida 0, Celzo 0, Richi Calimag 0.

EAC 59 – Gurtiza 10, Pagsanjan 10, Doromal 6, Bacud 6, Quinal 5, Loristo 5, Oftana 5, Ednilag 4, Ochavo 2, Jacob 2, Postanes 2, Lucero 2, Luciano 0, Bagay 0, Umpad 0.

Quarters: 24-17; 48-29; 66-35; 89-59.

Second Game

MAPUA 71 – Cuenco 21, Escamis 18, Hubilla 15, Concepcion 6, Mangubat 5, Abdulla 3, Bancale 2, Recto 1, Igliane 0, Jabonete 0, Ryan 0, Garcia 0.

PERPETUAL 57 – Boral 14, Pagaran 13, Abis 9, Gojo Cruz 6, Pizarro 6, Nuñez 2, Manuel 2, Montemayor 2, Gelsano 2, Movida 1, Sevilla 0, Thompson 0.

Quarters: 16-12; 29-30; 51-41; 71-57.