PERPETUAL’S Juneric Baloria (left) shows the defensive side of his game, thwarting a shot by Philip Paniamogan of JRU. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
LOOKS like the mean, fiery San Beda Red Lions are back.
With Baser Amer and Ola Adeogun dishing out big games, the Red Lions rediscovered their lethal form to repulse the surprisingly listless Arellano Chiefs, 97-69, last night and clinch the No. 1 seed in the Final Four of the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The four-time defending champions unleashed a furious second-quarter charge before finishing with a flourish to seal the No. 1 seed heading into postseason for the ninth straight year.
Earlier, Jose Rizal U, getting a huge lift from Bernabe Teodoro, hacked out an 82-79 triumph over Perpetual Help to gain the No. 3 seed in the Final Four.
The Red Lions square off with the fourth-seeded Altas for the third straight season. Both San Beda and Arellano own a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four slated at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
Amer anchored the strong finish with eight of his output in the final period, while Adeogun came through with 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Lions, who snapped a three-game slide.
“I have to give credit to the boys,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. “They never gave up on the system.”
The Lions were left searching for answers on the back of losses to Jose Rizal U, Perpetual Help and Arellano the past couple of weeks, putting their position in peril.
A four-hour meeting with chief backer Manny V. Pangilinan Tuesday night “perked up” the team, according to Fernandez.
The Chiefs bungled the chance to cement the No. 1 seed outright when they bowed to Lyceum last Tuesday.
The scores:
First Game
JRU 82—Teodoro 16, Paniamogan 15, Abdulwahab 11, Benavides 9, Balagtas 8, Mabulac 8, Sanchez 4, Asuncion 4, Astilla 2, Grospe 2, Manuel 2, Lasquety 1.
PERPETUAL 79—Alano 19, Arboleda 17, Baloria 16, Dagangon 10, Gallardo 8, Thompson 5, Oliveria 4, Dizon 0, Ylagan 0, Tamayo 0, Bantayan 0, Lucente 0, Jolangcob 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 34-32, 50-55, 73-73 (reg), 82-79 (OT)
Second Game
SAN BEDA 97—Amer 21, Adeogun 15, Pascual 14, Sara 10, Dela Cruz 10, Mendoza 9, Koga 7, A. Semerad 6, D. Semerad 5, Tongco 0.
ARELLANO 69—Hernandez 11, Agovida 10, Jalalon 8, Holts 8, Cadavis 6, Nicholls 5, Caperal 4, Enriquez 4, Ortega 3, Gumaru 2, Salcedo 2, Ciriacruz 2, Bangga 2, Pinto 2, Palma 0.
Quarters: 18-22, 43-32, 67-56, 97-69