Dave Marcelo flirted with the triple double to help San Beda barge back to the finals. Photo by Ejay Amador, NCAA.org.ph
MANILA, Philippines—Sustaining its ruthless form, San Beda is back in familiar territory: The NCAA Finals.
Despite playing their third game in five days, the Red Lions easily reached the championship round for the sixth straight season after hacking out an 83-74 win over Jose Rizal U Monday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
But San Beda’s title foe won’t be known until tomorrow after third seed Letran repeated over struggling San Sebastian, 70-62, in the other Final Four showdown.
The Knights’ second win against the Stags in as many weeks forged a playoff between the two squads for the remaining finals slot this Wednesday.
Filling the void left by last year’s Most Valuable Player Sudan Daniel, Dave Marcelo spearheaded the Lions’ ferocious effort with a 16-point, 10-rebound and seven-block performance, while Kyle Pascual came away with 14 points and 10 boards in just 16 minutes.
“It wasn’t easy for us,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim, who will be coaching in his fifth straight final. “We played against a well-coached team. Up until the end, they were trying to come back.”
Jam Cortes and Kevin Alas paced the Knights with 16 and 15 points, respectively, but it was pint-sized guard Mark Cruz who carried the load in an endgame surge that left the Stags reeling.
“We just got half of the job done,” Letran coach Louie Alas said in Filipino. “We just wanted to make the most out of our Final Four experience. We were relaxed.”
Even with chief gunner Garvo Lanete groping for form, the Lions built a 17-point lead in the third quarter, thanks to Rome dela Rosa, before holding off the Bombers with clutch hits from Marcelo, Jake Pascual and Anthony Semerad.
The Knights let the Stags bleed for their points in the final period, while Cruz took over, firing eight of his 12 points, including a stepback jumper for a 65-53 lead.
Ronald Pascual’s shooting woes continued as the Stags swingman made just 3 of 18 shots for a season-low eight points.
“We just didn’t have the desire to win,” said San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson.
In juniors play, La Salle Green Hills advanced to the next phase of the stepladder semifinals after an 88-74 trouncing of Emilio Aguinaldo College. The Greenies will face second seed Letran for the right to play San Beda in the finals.
The Senior scores:
First Game
SAN BEDA 83—Dela Rosa 17, Marcelo 16, K. Pascual 14, J. Pascual 10, Lanete 8, Amer 7, A. Semerad 7, D. Semerad 2, Caram 2, Villahermosa 0, Sorela 0.
JRU 74—Matute 21, Almario 12, Lopez 12, Villarias 10, Apinan 10, Kabigting 4, Paniamongan 2, Mendoza 2, Montemayor 1, Monserat 0.
Quarters: 22-21, 47-36, 68-60, 83-74
Second Game
LETRAN 70—Cortes 16, Ke. Alas 15, Cruz 12, Racal 9, Almazan 6, Kr. Alas 4, Belorio 3, Gabriel 2, Dysam 2, Espiritu 1.
SAN SEBASTIAN 62—Abueva 19, Sangalang 17, Pascual 8, Antipuesto 6, Dela Cruz 4, Del Rio 4, Miranda 2, Maiquez 2, Ferrer 0.
Quarters: 11-12, 28-26, 44-44, 70-62