MANILA, Philippines – The San Beda College Red Lions were playing without their team captain, Dan Sara, on Tuesday against Emilio Aguinaldo College yet barely missed a beat, thanks to the strong performances of Ranbill Tongco and AC Soberano.

Sara suffered a freak injury in practice, fracturing the ring finger on his right hand after it got caught on a teammate's jersey.

Yet Tongco was there to fill the leadership void, while Soberano finally found his stroke after going cold in his first two games. Tongco finished with 22 points, and Soberano added 21 as they combined for 18 in a blistering third quarter that allowed the Red Lions to break the game open en route to a 91-76 win.

"These two, they shot the ball well, and that's why we were able to get out of EAC," San Beda coach Jamike Jarin said after the game. "They had 14 attempts (from three-points) and seven made, so that's 50%, and I'm happy with that."

Tongco, who made nine of his 12 attempts from the field, said he was simply "stepping up" to fill the shoes of Sara.

"That's why I'm a co-captain," he pointed out. "If the captain is not around, then you need to be a leader in the team. 'Yun lang."

(READ: League-leading San Beda reinforces mastery over EAC)

Soberano, for his part, connected on eight-of-13 attempts, finally breaking out of an uncharacteristic slump that prevented him from contributing much in San Beda's first two victories.

"Noong first two games, eager talaga ako na offense lang talaga," he admitted. "Pero kinausap ako ni Coach Jamike na focus muna ako sa defense, darating din ang offense. 'Yun ang nangyari sa game na ito, at lumabas ang offense."

He added that he was grateful to his teammates for continuing to trust him despite his poor form in the first week of the NCAA Season 92 tournament.

"Sila talaga 'yung nagbibigay ng kumpyansa sa akin," he added.

With Soberano and Tongco both waxing hot, San Beda outscored EAC, 31-19, in the third period, and they took a 71-53 lead heading into the final frame. They were barely threatened after that, cruising to their third straight win and a share of the lead.

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