Lions oust Altas, gain ‘NC’ finals

STEADY and composed when it mattered most, San Beda clinched the first finals berth of the NCAA basketball tournament with a hard-earned 56-52 win over upstart Perpetual Help last night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Throwing his weight around inside the paint, Nigerian center Ola Adeogun took charge in the second half as the Red Lions roared to a seventh straight championship appearance.

Later, a hot-shooting Kevin Alas exploded for a career-high 43 points as Letran kept its mastery of San Sebastian, 92-74,  to forge a rubber match for the second finals berth tomorrow.

Playing his finest game of the season, Adeogun poured 16 of his 23 points in the second half, joining forces with Baser Amer, whose clutch free throws helped seal the victory and put the Lions within two victories of a third straight crown and a sixth title in seven seasons.

Amer went 2-of-4 from the stripe in the last 26 seconds after Adeogun calmly sank two free throws in the previous possession, giving the Lions the cushion they needed. Amer and Adeogun accounted for the Lions’ last 11 points.

“The mission has always stayed the same for us to get the top but we know for a fact that we faced so many obstacles throughout the season,” said San Beda rookie coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

“I was worried because the team looked tight in the first half. They were thinking of winning but not doing the things that they should do to win. Eventually, they fought and persisted and we made the defensive stops.”

Pushed to the limit by the inspired Altas, who made their first trip to the Final Four in eight seasons, the Lions proved equal to the challenge, figuring out a way to clamp down on Perpetual’s shooters in the final minute.

After Jett Vidal tied the game at 52 with 1:13 remaining with a trey, the Altas couldn’t find the mark in their last three possessions.

The loss ended what was a scintillating run by the Altas, who languished in the bottom two the last two seasons before finally proving their worth under coach Aric del Rosario.

The scores
First Game
SAN BEDA 56—Adeogun 23, Amer 9, Dela Cruz 7, J. Pascual 6, Caram 6, Dela Rosa 5, Mendoza 0, Ludovice 0, Koga 0, K. Pascual 0, Lim 0.
PERPETUAL HELP 52—Omorogbe 15, Vidal 15, Allen 9, Alano 5. Babayemi 4, Elopre 4,  Thompson 0, Paulino 0, Jolangcob 0, Arboldea 0.
Quarters: 9-10, 17-22, 35-39, 56-52
Second Game
LETRAN 92—K. Alas 43, Cruz 20, Racal 10, Lituania 8, Belorio 4, Gabawan 4, Cortes 3, J. Alas 0, Luib 0, Pantin 0, Almazan 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 74—Abueva 21, Sangalang 13, Juico 10, Dela Cruz 8, Rebullos 6, Miranda 5, Gusi 3, Vitug 2, Binuya 0, Antipuesto 0, Dones 0.
Quarters: 27-7, 46-28, 69-48, 92-74