Dioncee Holts of Arellano and Anthony Semerad of San Beda.
INQUIRER PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ
FOR SOMEONE who didn’t even want to be involved in his team’s final play, the ending couldn’t have been any better.
Ralph Salcedo emerged as the unlikely hero, delivering withthe game-winning basket with less than a second remaining as Arellano posted a heart-stopping 78-76 victory over San Beda yesterday to reach the Final Four for the first time since joining the NCAA basketball tournament five years ago at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Recognized more for his work on the defensive end, the seldom-used forward completed a fastbreak play out of a steal to lift the Chiefs, who improved to 13-4 while claiming the second twice-to-beat bonus in the postseason.
“He didn’t want to go in for the final play,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codinera of Salcedo, who also started the defensive play, tapping the ball from Lions guard Ranbill Tongco. “I overheard him from the bench, pleading not to send him in. But I trust him and we all saw the result, he’s a winner.”
Earlier, Perpetual Help, drawing another superb all-around performance from Earl Thompson, repulsed San Sebastian, 92-76, to assure itself of a playoff for a Final Four berth.
A cinch to win his first Most Valuable Player award this season, Thompson notched 29 points that went with nine rebounds and eight assists as the Altas unleashed a crippling 18-2 burst in the final period to put away the Stags.
Harold Arboleda had 16 points and 18 rebounds for the Altas, who rallied from 14 points down in the third period on their way to claiming their 12th win of the season.
The scores:
First Game
PERPETUAL HELP 92—Thompson 29, Baloria 24, Arboleda 16, Alano 12, Dagangon 8, Gallardo 3, Oliveria 0, Dizon 0, Lucente 0, Jolangcob 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 76—Dela Cruz 18, Fabian 18, Guinto 14, Perez 12, Yong 6, Balucanag 4, Calisaan 2, Costelo 2, Camasura 0, Alvarez 0, Pretta 0, Ortuoste 0, Mercado 0.
Quarters: 22-21, 31-40, 56-60, 92-76
Second Game
ARELLANO 78—Holts 19, Agovida 17, Ciriacruz 12, Pinto 10, Jalalon 8, Gumaru 4, Salcedo 2, Hernandez 2, Bangga 2, Palma 2, Nicholls 0, Caperal 0, Enriquez 0.
SAN BEDA 76—Adeogun 23, Amer 18, Dela Cruz 15, Sara 7, Tongco 4, A. Semerad 3, Mendoza 2, Pascual 2, Sorela 2, Koga 0, Mocon 0.
Quarters: 16-17, 39-32, 55-58, 78-76