Red Lions make Final 4
San Beda booked its place in the Final Four for the 12th straight season with plenty to spare.
The Red Lions leaned on clutch hits from Davon Potts and Javee Mocon to turn back the Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers, 65-60, Friday to become the second team to reach the postseason in NCAA Season 93 at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Mocon dished out another strong game with 19 points, including a critical jumper with 1:24 remaining, on top of 15 rebounds. Potts had 14 points with two triples coming after the Bombers seized a 59-57 lead.
“It’s really our defense that really helped us win this game,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. “The worst thing that happened—we gave up 27 points in the third quarter, which is not our usual self.”
JRU’s offensive outburst in the third period allowed the Bombers to keep the Red Lions within striking distance.
But after Aaron Bordon hit a triple to push the Bombers in front, 59-57, Potts drilled back-to-back triples as the Lions regained control. Potts has struggled for most of first round, but has slowly regained his touch in the past few games.
“Many people have been doubting him because he missed his shots in the first round,” said Fernandez. “But me as a coach and the rest of the coaching staff and the rest of his teammates believe [it takes] just one game [where] he makes a shot and everything will be different for Davon.”
Later, Rey Nambatac and Bong Quinto combined for 47 points as Letran caught up with JRU at third spot after avenging a first-round loss to Mapua, 88-79. The Knights improved to 7-6, while sending the Cardinals to their 11th straight loss.
Arellano kept its faint Final Four hopes alive with an 84-79 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College. Michael Canete fired a career-best 27 points, while Kent Salado added 23 points for the Chiefs, who remained in seventh spot with a 5-8 record.
The Generals fell to sixth spot with a 6-7 record.
