Filoil Final Four field forged

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

NCAA teams San Beda and Jose Rizal U proved too strong for their UAAP foes, even as La Salle made light work of Far Eastern U, 78-53, to complete the semifinal cast last Wednesday night in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup in San Juan.

Robert Bolick finished with 17 points and Arnauld Noah added 14 points as the NCAA champion Red Lions turned back the University of the Philippines Maroons, 65-56, for their ninth straight win that also set up a Final Four clash with the Heavy Bombers at Filoil Flying V Centre.

JRU needed a late explosion from Tey Teodoro to hold off Adamson, 67-56, while Lyceum continued its stellar run with an 86-71 thumping of San Sebastian in another quarterfinal clash.

Ben Mbala dished out another huge game with 32 points and 19 rebounds for the Archers, who led 20-11 at the end of the first period.

“It’s not just Ben (Mbala) who played well but the rest of the team,” said La Salle coach Aldin Ayo.

The Lions found a response each time the Maroons threatened in the final period as Noah stepped up on both ends of the floor in the endgame. —WITH A REPORT FROM KRISTOFER PURNELL