The San Beda College Red Lions road to REDemption heads into its final stage.
The Red Lions bucked a slow start and continuously pounded the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas in the last three periods, taking a 78-63 win to advance to the NCAA Season 92 Seniors Basketball Finals, Tuesday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“God is good,” San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin quipped after making the finals for the second straight year.
After a slow start that saw San Beda commit six first half turnovers, the Red Lions pushed the pedal in the second frame led by eight straight points by transferee Robert Bolick. Third year forward Javee Mocon then lambasted the porous interior defense of Perpetual to help give San Beda a 37-30 lead entering the break.
Bolick finished the game with 14 points and six rebounds while Javee Mocon notched a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
“Right what we’re saying, during this time of the year, you can’t be tired or hurting inside,” Jarin added. “All the marbles in the world, it’s all about the last 80 minutes.”
However, even after the break, the misery of Perpetual continued in the second half highlighted by the duo of Bright Akhuetie and Gab Dagangon. After the two shot a combined 19-of-29 from the field in the first game, the two shot a horrid 9-of-25 from the field in this game.
San Beda continued to run past the Altas. Davon Potts then put on the finishing touches, scoring nine in the final frame to help extend the San Beda lead to a game-high 20 points, 75-55, with 2:09 left in the game. As Ben Adamos were making his free throws during that time, coach Jimwell Gican and the Altas waved the white flag – plugging all of the team’s third-stringers to close out the game.
Filipino-American gunslinger Potts led San Beda with 16 points while defensive anchor Adamos tallied seven points, six rebounds, and four swats in the game.
“We wanted to get into the finals earlier e. At least you get a chance to rest,” Jarin furthered. “Of course we have to give credit to Perpetual. I’d like to congratulate the entire Perpetual team. They were one win away from making it to the finals.”
Dagangon scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the game, seven coming in the final frame as he tried to will Perpetual back but the lead was too insurmountable. Daryl Singontiko added 11 points while Bright Akhuetie finished with eight points on a nightmarish 3-of-9 clip.
Gerald Dizon, who is the only graduating player for Perpetual, finished the game with three points.
Perpetual shot just 29 percent from the field compared to a superior 47 percent for the league-leaders.
“I’m just a coach who wants to win and prepare these young men for life. I care about winning but it’s the togetherness that we’ll have in a lifetime,” he added as San Beda assisted on half of their 30 field goals.
The San Beda Red Lions face the Arellano University Chiefs in a rematch of the NCAA Season 90 Finals. The series begins on Thursday, October 6 at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
SBC (78) – Potts 16, Bolick 14, Mocon 12, Soberano 9, Noah 7, Adamos 7, Sara 6, Oftana 4, Presbitero 2, Bahio 1, Tongco 0, Alas 0, Bonsubre 0, Carlos 0, Navarro 0.
UPHSD (63) – Dagangon 16, Singontiko 11, Akhuetie 8, Eze 6, Sadiwa 6, Ylagan 5, Coronel 3, Hao 3, Dizon 3, Pido 2, Gallardo 0, Yuhico 0, Mangalino 0.
Quarterscores: 15-20, 37-30, 56-39, 78-63.
