Baser Amer vs Tey Teodoro. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
It will be San Beda versus Letran once again for all the marbles.
The Red Lions marched on to their 10th straight NCAA Finals appearance, trouncing Jose Rizal U, 78-68, in their Season 91 semifinals tilt Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
With the victory, the crew of coach Jamike Jarin will be targeting its sixth straight title against Letran starting on Friday at the start of best-of-three finals.
It is the third time in four years that the rival schools will meet in the finals.
“People have been criticizing me for playing too much (players). I think people will not criticize me now. The biggest game of the season and the bench delivered,” said Jarin.
Baser Amer led the all-out charge for San Beda with 11 points and five rebounds while Dan Sara also got 11 markers, three boards, and three assists.
AC Soberano delivered two of his four attempts from three to end up with 10 points, while Pierre Tankoua got a double-double with 10 markers and 10 rebounds.
San Beda came back from an eight-point deficit midway in the third and fired a 16-2 tear behind back-to-back treys from Soberano to take the lead, 56-50, to close the quarter. The Red Lions stayed the course in the payoff period and kept JRU at bay until the end.
Marco Balagtas led the Heavy Bombers in the defeat with 14 points and six boards.
The Scores:
SAN BEDA 78 – Amer 11, Sara 11, Soberano 10, Tankoua 10, Mocon 8, Sorela 7, Adeogun 5, Dela Cruz 5, Tongco 4, Koga 3, Reyes 2, Presbitero 2, Cabañag 0, Bonsubre 0, Sedillo 0.
JRU 68 – Balagtas 14, Poutouochi 12, Teodoro 9, Dela Paz 8, Estrella 8, Astilla 6, Pontejos 6, Abdulwahab 3, Lasquety 2, Sanchez 0, Grospe 0.
Quarters: 17-19, 30-32, 56-53, 78-68.