Red Lions ready for any foe in NCAA Final 4
San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin is wary of the Red Lions’ possible Final Four opponents.
The Lions secured the last twice-to-beat bonus on Tuesday and will face either Mapua or University of Perpetual Help in the semifinals depending on how the final day of the elimination round on Friday will pan out.
“With Mapua, you got the reigning MVP in Allwell Oraeme while with Perpetual, you got Bright [Akhuetie] and [Prince] Eze,” Jarin told reporters after San Beda’s 84-75 win over Perpetual Help that kept the Red Lions’ bid for the No. 1 spot going.
READ: San Beda trips Perpetual, nails twice-to-beat bonus
But Jarin is neither afraid nor pressured with the potential of these formidable teams standing in the way of San Beda to reclaim the NCAA crown.
The Altas and Cardinals may have the best imports in the league, but for Jarin, the Lions have a team focused on one goal.
“We got 15 players. Yun lang pagmamalaki ko. You have to deal with 15 players against San Beda.”
READ: 4 players suspended for San Beda-Letran scuffle
True enough, San Beda showed its strength in numbers to withstand the Akhuetie-powered Perpetual Help.
Five Lions scored at least nine points with AC Soberano leading the way with 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field in less than 16 minutes off the bench.
Davon Potts added 15, Javee Mocon tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds while Robert Bollick and Benedict Adamosn chipped in nine points each.
READ: Tempers boil over in another heated San Beda-Letran duel
“Even though we struggled in this game, credit to my teammates because we just didn’t give up and we’re doing this as a team,” Soberano said.
