San Beda clinches its 9th straight Final 4 berth

Baser Amer of San Beda was forced to pass off a double defense put up by Dexter Zamora and Jeremial Taladua of LPU, at the San Juan arena. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Eyeing its eighth championship in nine years, San Beda moved a step closer to achieving its goal after clinching the first Final Four berth with a 76-60 win over Lyceum in the NCAA Season 90 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Versatile forward Art dela Cruz scattered 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the league-leading Red Lions, who will see action in the semifinals for the ninth straight season after hiking their record to 13-2.

San Beda took control in the third quarter with dela Cruz and Amer teaming up as the Lions’ lead swelled to 20, 57-37, with under two minutes left in the third quarter.

San Beda also pulled the plug on Lyceum’s semis hopes.

The Pirates made it just an 11-point game, 65-54, after a free throw by Wilson Baltazar with the Lions’ Ola Adeogun resting on bench at the 3:24 mark of the fourth period.

With Lyceum mounting a rally, San Beda inserted its Nigerian center back in the game and the well-rested Adeogun immediately restored order for the defending champion.

A layup by Adeogun extended San Beda’s lead back to 13, 67-54, before putting the game away on another inside conversion for a 72-57 advantage with only 1:13 left.

The hard-fighting Pirates suffered its ninth loss against only six wins.

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