PCCL: San Beda squanders lead, but recovers to escape SWU

Jake Pascual carries San Beda to first win in PCCL final four. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — NCAA titlist San Beda was held spellbound in the fourth quarter but still managed a 73-72 victory over Cebu champion Southwestern University Wednesday in the PCCL final four at the San Juan Arena.

The Red Lions only scored six measly points in the final 10 minutes, but were lucky to have built a cushion huge enough to still bag the win as the single round robin kicked off.

Graduating forward Jake Pascual accounted for the last four points of San Beda, which squandered a 20-point advantage it had built — only late in the third.

Pascual also had six rebounds and three assists for his squad, which missed the services of Nigerian center Ola Adeogun, who is sidelined with a sprained ankle.

With under a minute left, the Red Lions were holding on to the lead by a hairline, after SWU’s Monbert Arong secured the leather off a jump for fastbreak lay-in.

Baser Amer, who was checked in the second half after leading San Beda with 13 points at the half, threw up a hurried trey and missed with 17 seconds — which could’ve doomed his squad.

But San Beda got a huge break in their favor when the Cobras, who still had 10 seconds to pull off a massive upset, didn’t seem aware of the time and wasn’t even able to attempt a shot.

The victory gives the Red Lions a good start on their bid to become the second national champions from the NCAA, as they face UAAP finalists Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas next.

The visiting Cobras, though, just sent a strong message they are no pushovers, especially with Cameroonian Ben Mbala in tow.

Mbala poured the bulk of his 27 points in the pivotal payoff period run by SWU — which turned a 45-65 deficit to just a one point game.

The Cobras, the Cesafi champions, barged into the final four after winning the Southern Islands regionals of the PCCL.

Top two squads in the single round robin final four will figure in a best-of-three finals — a different format from last year’s tournament.