After multiple attempts, the Red Lions finally booked their ticket to the Final Four for the 11th straight season.
The San Beda College Red Lions notched a much-needed win with a 89-73 routing of the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
This win might be the dose of medicine the Red Lions need, who have lost three of their last four games.
“It’s where we determine where we’ll end up in the playoffs,” San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin said. “I’m just happy that we’re there, we just need to work a little harder and play a little harder. “
The local support was there for San Beda, as Davon Potts scored 19 points on a highly-efficient 8-of-13 shooting, while AC Soberano regained his touch, going 5-of-5 from downtown for 17 points. The two gunslingers paced the Red Lions to a blistering first half as they combined for 28 first half points.
The Pirates cut the lead to single digits to start the final frame behind the efforts of Edcor Marata and Reymar Caduyac. However, hulking Cameroonian student-athlete Arnaud Noah powered his way inside and even knocked down his sole three point attempt that broke the game wide-open. Free throws by Noah with 2:33 remaining gave San Beda their biggest lead of the game, 84-67.
Noah finished the game with a career-high 22 points on 80 percent shooting from the field.
“Like what we said, we just need to look forward and not backward anymore,” Jarin furthered. “We just got our bearings together, we told ourselves there’s still a lot of game to be played.”
“Let’s just keep on pushing, keep on running, keep on reaching.”
Caduyac led Lyceum with 27 points, 12 coming in the final period. MJ Ayaay added 17 markers and 12 boards.
As a team, the Red Lions shot 58 percent from the field compared to just 35 percent for Lyceum. Moreover, they were able to move the ball better, with 27 dimes on 35 makes.
The San Beda Red Lions (2nd, 11-4) will have a week-long break before facing the Perpetual Altas on Tuesday, September 20, in a battle that could decide the second place in the standings. On the other hand, the Lyceum Pirates (T-7th, 5-11) face the same team on Tuesday, September 13, at 12:00nn.
The Scores:
SBC (89) – Noah 22, Potts 19, Soberano 17, Mocon 12, Sara 9, Adamos 6, Bolick 2, Optana 2, Presbitero 0, Tongco 0, Bahio 0, Bonsubre 0.
LPU (73) – Caduyac 27, Ayaay 17, Marata 11, Soliman 6, Nzeusseu 5, Alban 4, Baltazar 3, Gabayni 0, Alanes 0, Rubite 0, Soriano 0, Bulawan 0, Serafico 0.
Quarterscores: 21-14, 46-32, 64-55, 89-73.
