AC Soberano showed the way as San Beda beat Arellano University, 80-73, on Tuesday to clinch the top spot in the Final Four of the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Red Lions are semifinal top for the 11th straight year and will face Perpetual Help in the Final Four starting on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Chiefs take on third seed Mapua.
Soberano hit six three-pointers on his way to a career-high 26 points to go with six rebounds.
Ben Adamos also came up big for the Red Lions, scoring with 14 points including six straight to open the fourth period. He also had four blocks.
"This is good because you always want to go to the playoffs with a win," said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.
"That's momentum coming in. So hats off to Arellano also for really playing well and fighting and I'd like to thank the 15 young men around me, the few coaches that we have and the administration for winning and making it to No. 1."
Soberano's last three-pointer gave the Red Lions a 13-point lead, 73-60, with 4:15 to go.
Arellano retaliated with six straight points behind Jio Jalalon, but the Red Lions used their size advantage and secured three straight offensive rebounds in the final two minutes to shut the door on the Chiefs.
Jalalon had 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals for the Chiefs.
Kent Salado and Donald Gumaru chipped in 11 points apiece.
The scores:
San Beda 80 – Soberano 26, Bolick 14, Adamos 14, Sara 10, Mocon 6, Noah 5, Presbitero 3, Potts 2, Bonsubre 0, Tongco 0, Navarro 0, Oftana 0, Carlos 0.
Arellano 73 – Jalalon 14, Salado 11, Gumaru 11, Villoria 10, Flores 6, Canete 6, Enriquez 5, Holts 3, Aguilar 3, Meca 2, Cadavis 2, Nicholls 0, Zamora 0, Gupilan 0.
Quarterscores: 23-22; 38-35; 60-59; 80-73.
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