THERE are a few certain things in the NCAA, and San Beda making the Finals year in and year out is slowly turning out to be one.
For the 13th straight year, the Red Lions will be playing in the championship as they outlasted the gritty Perpetual Help Altas, 83-72, on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
AC Soberano was the difference for San Beda in the second half as he drained all four of his triples in the final two quarters to finish off the tough-fighting Perpetual and set the stage for San Beda – Lyceum part two on the league’s grandest stage.
Soberano was sizzling as he drained back-to-back threes to give the Red Lions a 44-39 lead late in the third after Perpetual went ahead by a solitary point.
He then picked up from where he left off, draining two more to give the Red Lions a 59-48 lead in the early goings of the payoff period as they continued their mastery over the Altas, eliminating them for the fifth time in seven years.
“First of all, I would like to congratulate coach Frankie, the Altas, and the Perpetual community for a very good game. First half, we were missing our shots. But as I have said, with AC and Robert taking good care of our point guard position, we made shots in the third quarter,” said San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez.
“But again, it's not yet over. We still have a title to defend against Lyceum. All my players did a good job today.”
Robert Bolick led the way for the Red Lions as he finished with 23 points and six assists as JV Mocon and Donald Tankoua did a good job taking turns on MVP frontrunner Prince Eze.
Mocon finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds while Donald Tankoua finished with 13 points and 18 rebounds.
Soberano scored all of his 12 points in the second half.
Eze finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks for the Altas who were led by Jielo Razon and Tonton Peralta with 16 points apiece.
Edgar Charcos finished with 12 points and nine assists.
The scores:
SAN BEDA 83 – Bolick 23, Mocon 14, Tankoua 13, Soberano 12, Cabanag 9, Eugene 5, Canlas 4, Presbitero 3, Oftana 0, Abuda 0, Doliguez 0, Nelle 0
UPHSD 72 – Razon 16, Peralta 16, Eze 13, Charcos 12, Aurin 7, Coronel 5, Jimenez 3, Cuevas 0 Quarters: 13-11, 27-24, 53-48, 83-72
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