Lions rip Chiefs, battle Archers for title
San Beda overcame a listless start to rout Arellano, 87-68, yesterday and nail the last title berth in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) at Ynares Sports Arena.
Art dela Cruz posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Baser Amer poured in all of his 16 points in the last two quarters as the Red Lions arranged a championship showdown with La Salle.
San Beda finished tied at 3-1 with University of San Carlos at the end of the Elite Eight round, but the Lions clinched the last title slot due to a better quotient.
“Good thing we came back in the second half,” said acting San Beda coach Adonis Tierra. “The adjustment was more on the mental side.”
Game 1 of the best-of-three series starts at 4 p.m. Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena, where the Archers will vie for back-to-back crowns after a 4-0 sweep of the Elite Eight.
The USC Warriors gun for third place against University of the Visayas Monday.
UV wound up tied at 2-2 with Far Eastern U, which wrapped up its campaign with a 60-58 win over National University in the other game.
Carl Bryan Cruz drilled eight of his 10 points in the second half, while Mac Belo added eight for FEU.
Amer, who also had six assists, shot 3-of-3 from three-point range to help the Lions extend the gap to 20 points, 80-60, after trailing for most of the first half.
The scores:
First Game
SAN BEDA 87—Dela Cruz 20, Amer 16, Adeogun 11, Mendoza 10, Soberano 9, Tankoua 5, Presbitero 5, Koga 4, Sorela 4, Sara 3, Tongco 0.
ARELLANO 68—Jalalon 23, Holts 12, Gumaru 10, Tano 6, Nicholls 6, Meca 4, Salcedo 3, Cadavis 2, Salado 2, Ortega 0, Enriquez 0, Bangga 0, De Guzman 0.
Quarters: 18-22, 34-35, 62-54, 87-68
Second Game
FEU 60—Cruz 10, Belo 8, Trinidad 6, Delfinado 6, Tolomia 6, Tamsi 5, Orizu 4, Pogoy 4, Denila 3, Ebona 3, Escoto 2, Iñigo 2, Jose 1, Lee Yu 0.
NU 58—Alejandro 11, Aroga 9, Betayene 8, Tansingco 7, Celda 5, Neypes 4, Yu 3, Rosario 3, Alolino 3, Diputado 2, Salim 2, Khobuntin 1, Cauilan 0, Perez 0, Javelona 0, Atangan 0.
Quarters: 12-18, 28-30, 47-46, 60-58
