Lions, Chiefs seal ‘NC’ title showdown

SAN BEDA’S Ola Adeogun (right) foils a drive by Perpetual Help’s Earl Thompson in yesterday’s game. RODEL ROTONI

San Beda returned to familiar territory, while Arellano broke new ground.

Proving equal to the challenge at crunchtime, the Red Lions and Chiefs forged a championship duel last night with gutsy victories in the Final Four of the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Red Lions built enough cushion to hold off a late Perpetual Help rally with an 81-75 triumph that rewarded San Beda with a ninth straight finals appearance while the Chiefs turned back the Jose Rizal U Bombers, 72-65, to reach the finals for the first time since joining the league in 2009.

As the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, the Red Lions and Chiefs were armed with a twice-to-beat edge. It turned out they didn’t need it as both teams came out strong in the final quarter to preserve their early advantage.

“It’s a dream come true for all of us in the entire Arellano community,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera, in only his first season at the helm.

“It’s nice to be back in the finals,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez, whose team is seeking a fifth straight title.

Game 1 of the best-of-three finals is at 4 p.m. on Monday at Mall of Asia Arena.

American Dioncee Holts notched 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but it was Jiovani Jalalon who delivered the telling blows, scoring the last five points of the Chiefs, while putting the clamps on a red-hot Jaycee Asuncion down the stretch.

The Lions nearly squandered a 26-point lead in the first half as the Altas came within five points, 75-80, in the last 20 seconds, before Baser Amer iced the game with a split from the free throw line.

The scores:

First Game

SAN BEDA 81—A. Semerad 18, Amer 17, Adeogun 13, Mendoza 12, Dela Cruz 11, Pascual 6, Koga 2, Tongco 2, Sara 0, Abude 0, D. Semerad 0.

PERPETUAL HELP 75—Thompson 20, Baloria 20, Arboleda 14, ALano 11, Dagangon 7, Oliveria 2, Jolangcob 1, Dizon 0, Ylagan 0, Gallardo 0, Bantayan 0.

Quarters: 22-7, 44-18, 55-44, 81-75

Second Game

ARELLANO 72—Holts 22, Hernandez 12, Jalalon 8, Caperal 8, Pinto 7, Agovida 7, Ciriacruz 4, Salceda 2, Enriquez 2, Gumaru 0, Bangga 0, Cadavis 0.

JRU 65—Teodoro 19, Asuncion 13, Mabulac 13, Abdulwahab 6, Benavides 5, Sanchez 4, Paniamogan 3, Lasquety 2, Salaveria 0, Grospe 0.

Quarters: 21-18, 36-31, 54-53, 72-65