MANILA, Philippines—San Beda’s running game kicked into high gear just when San Sebastian lost its composure.
Rising to the challenge in the final quarter, the Red Lions roared to an emphatic 75-63 victory over the Stags Monday night to move within a win of a second straight NCAA men’s basketball championship before a huge crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mar Villahermosa struck for 10 of his 15 points in the final period, Dave Marcelo fired 14 and grabbed 11 boards, and the rest of the Lions proved up to the task in a physical duel that saw the ejection of San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson with still two minutes to play.
“It’s the finals and we needed to go all-out,” said the Cebu-born Villahermosa, who has played in the shadows of ace guard Garvo Lanete throughout the season.
Earlier, St. Benilde-La Salle Green Hills dealt San Beda its first tournament loss, 85-82, to reduce the juniors finals into a race-to-two affair.
Andre Paras, son of former PBA MVP Benjie Paras, fired 13 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as the Greenies took away the Lions’ one-game edge in the finals—an incentive for sweeping the elimination round.
With Lanete held to a season-low six points, Villahermosa provided the scoring punch as San Beda pulled away from a 52-all deadlock.
His last basket—a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down—turned out to be the dagger that snuffed out any hopes of a comeback for the Stags, 70-59, with 1:59 left.
Jake Pascual also sparkled for the Lions with 14 points aside from his fine defensive job on league MVP Calvin Abueva, who was limited to just 12 points on 6-of-19 shooting.
Matching up well despite foul trouble to its key players early on, San Sebastian began to unravel in the fourth period, just when San Beda used its running game and an airtight defense to silence the feared trio of Abueva, Ronald Pascual and Ian Sangalang.
Coach Frankie Lim hit out at what he described as “cheap shots” on his players.
“There were plenty of cheap shots,” he said. “I told my guys to look at the bigger picture. We’re playing here not to hurt, but to win.”
The Stags’ woes were compounded by the dismissal of Robinson with 1:51 left after complaining of a non-call on a drive by Abueva.
Earlier, Abueva was joined in the mythical five by Sangalang, Lanete and Letran’s Kevin Alas and Raymond Almazan, who was also named Most Improved Player. Mapua’s Josan Nimes wrested the Rookie of the Year plum.
The scores:
First Game
ST. BENILDE 85—Villaruz 22, Torres 14, Paras 13, Bonleon 9, Vito 8, Laigo 7, Sta. Clara 7, Barrera 3, Ramilo 2, Yap 0, Marcial 0, Mercado 0.
SAN BEDA 82—Patenio 19, Abatayo 16, Nazareno 11, Bonsubre 10, Abarcar 7, Tolentino 6, Tongco 4, Munsayac 4, Babilonia 3, Dela Costa 2, Macapayag 0, Miranda 0.
Quarters: 20-12, 41-38, 63-62, 85-82
Second Game
SAN BEDA 75—Villahermosa 15, J. Pascual 14, Marcelo 14, Dela Rosa 11, Amer 9, Lanete 6, A. Semerad 4, Caram 2, D. Semerad 0, K. Pascual 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 63—Pascual 14, Abueva 12, Antipuesto 11, Sangalang 10, Dela Cruz 7, Del Rio 5, Vitug 2, Miranda 2.
Quarters: 20-20, 35-38, 52-52, 75-63