San Beda sweeps La Salle to win PCCL title

MANILA, Philippines — Just over a month after defending its NCAA crown, San Beda won its first National title Monday night.

The Red Lions completed a sweep of the De La Salle Green Archers with a 73-66 victory in Game 2 of their best-of-three championship series in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Art dela Cruz scored 15 points and had 13 rebounds for the Lions, who became just the second NCAA member school to win the PCCL plum after the San Sebastian Stags in 2011.

San Beda held La Salle to just a point in nearly seven minutes in the fourth quarter to surge ahead, 68-60, after two free throws by dela Cruz with 52.9 seconds left after trailing by five with 7:11 left.

Prince Rivero put the Archers up, 59-54,  before his team went cold. La Salle wouldn’t score a field goal until Ben Mbala’s basket with 39.1 ticks remaining.

The Lions went on a 14-1 run midway through the final frame behind dela Cruz and a well-rested Adeogun, who spent a lot of time on the bench due to foul trouble.

Adeogun, who was named MVP of the tournament, had a team-high 19 points, eight coming in the fourth quarter alone. Adeogun outplayed his counterpart Mbala in a battle of two imports.

Mbala had his way in a loss in Game 1 but he had a tough outing this time around — scoring just 10 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field after missing his first six attempts.

Jeron Teng came alive for La Salle after a subpar performance in the previous game. Teng led the Archers early attack but he was almost a non-factor in the fourth quarter with San Beda’s defense able to adjust and close in on the star forward.

Cameroonian center Pierre Tankoua also gave San Beda a lift with nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks as Adoegun, who had three fouls in the first quarter, sat on the bench before coming in at the right time.