San Beda Red Lions go for title clincher vs San Sebastian Stags

MANILA, Philippines—Coach Frankie Lim has been raving about the San Beda Red Lions’ ability to rise above bruising duels against the San Sebastian Stags this season.

Game 1 of the 87th NCAA finals last Monday was no exception and with the Stags growing desperate searching for ways to stop the Lions’ juggernaut, Lim wants his squad to stay composed more than ever.

“We just have to be the bigger team and play to win,” said Lim.

Riding high on a strong finish in the title series-opener, the Red Lions shoot for back-to-back crowns and their fifth in six years at 12 noon Wednesday against the Stags in Game 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lions took Game 1, 75-63, with Mar Villahermosa and rookie Baser Amer sparking a fourth-quarter surge that allowed San Beda to break away from 52-all after the third period.

Lim believes the series is far from over, especially with the way San Sebastian resorted to what he called as “cheap shots” on his players late in the game.

One particular player who got Lim’s ire for his rough play is newly minted league Most Valuable Player Calvin Abueva.

“He’s one of the starters on that team and he plays that way. It’s embarrasing,” Lim said. “If they (Stags) want to play physical, we are ready for that. But we play to win.”

Abueva’s sub-par performance wasn’t the only major flashpoint of Game 1.

Riled by several non-calls on his team, Stags coach Topex Robinson excessively complained and was ejected from the game with less than two minutes left and the Stags trailing by 10.

Robinson has apologized to the San Sebastian community for losing his cool and vowed to bounce back in Game 2.

The Stags also committed 30 turnovers, which the Lions translated to 20 points.

While the Lions also drew big performances from Dave Marcelo and Jake Pascual, the Stags couldn’t get enough firepower from the trio of Abueva, Ronald Pascual and Ian Sangalang at a time when their bench started to pick up their games.

Hobbled by foul trouble, Sangalang played just 17 minutes and finished with 10 points, while Abueva, who was slapped with his third foul seven minutes into the game, wound up with a season-low 12 points. Between them, Pascual and Abueva also turned the ball 16 times.