THE San Beda Red Lions will have a chance to win back the crown they lost to the Letran Knights last year.
The Red Lions dictated the pace with their bench players stepping up in the second half as they posted a 78-63 rout of the University of Perpetual Help Altas yesterday in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball rubber match at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Davon Potts banged in 26 points for the Red Lions, who will fight to regain the crown against the Arellano University Chiefs at the start of their best-of-three playoff on Thursday.
The Altas, who were left behind when the Red Lions took command in the third, grabbed the initiative in the first period. But Gab Dangangon and Gemmar Ylagan combined for 10 points to push the Lions to a 20-15 advantage.
Then, Robert Bollick Jr. struck with 10 of 16 points in the second canto as the Red Lions went on to take a 37-30 advantage at halftime.
Things changed after Daryl Singontiko’s putback had the Altas threatening, 38-42. But San Beda bench players like Calvin Optana rose to the occasion and struck twice during a 6-0 spurt in the third.
The Red Lions were then up by 12, 54-42, off Potts’ drive in the closing minutes of the third.
They posted a 20-point spread, 77-57, after another bench player Jomari Presbitero sank two charities in the last 1:19 of the fourth.
“We should have played faster in the first period. We wanted to end it early. But we adjusted in the second half,” said Red Lions coach Jamike Jarin, who added that the bench players contributed big to their effort to keep the Altas at bay.
Meanwhile, the defending champion San Beda Red Cubs took control early, and held their ground in the fourth to put away the Arellano University Braves, 102-93, in their junior division rubber match.
Point guards Robi Nayve and Mark Lagumen shot 17 and 16 points for the Red Cubs, who advanced to the finals for an eighth straight season where they will meet the Mapua Red Robins in a best-of-three affair starting Thursday.
Lagumen unloaded nine points in the first period to post a 25-4 spread in the last 1:26 of the quarter.
Carlo Obenza tallied 15 points, including nine in the second, with his triple keeping the Red Cubs ahead, 40-25.
Peter Alfaro’s drive with 8:07 in quarter the allowed the Red Cubs to taste a 30-point edge, 69-39.
The Braves, behind big men Carlo Abadeza and Aaron Fermin who finished with 19 and 15 points, charged back from 15 points down in the fourth as they moved within six, 85-91, off Marlon Espiritu’s triple.
But, free throws from Nayve, and Lagumen’s drive allowed the Red Cubs to stay ahead, 95-85.
“For most of the game, we were in control. We were ahead by 30 points. But we gave up too many free throws in the second half. But we learned a lot from our last game, when they came back in the last seven minutes,” said Red Cubs coach JB Sison.
Games Thursday
(Game 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena)
1 p.m. San Beda vs Mapua (jrs)
3:45 p.m. San Beda vs Arellano (srs)