San Beda College’s tradition of being on top at the end of the elimination round continues!
Behind stellar outings by dead eye AC Soberano and anchor Ben Adamos, the Red Lions were able to blast the Arellano University Chiefs for the third time this season, 80-73, to gain the top seed entering the Final Four, Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With the win, the Red Lions will be bracketed with the Perpetual Altas, with the former holding a twice-to-beat advantage. The Chiefs, on the other hand, will take on the Mapua Cardinals. The San Beda-Perpetual series will begin on Friday, September 30, at 2:00pm, while the Arellano-Mapua game follows at 4:00pm.
For second year San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin, he is just thankful to be in this position once again.
“This is good because you always want to go into the playoffs with a win,” Jarin said. “I’d just like to thank the 15 young men around me and the administration for winning and making it to number one.”
AC Soberano dropped his career-high in this game, with 26 points on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting – including six booming triples.
“Focus lang sa game. Pagising ko nung umaga gusto ko talaga manalo,” the Tarlac native said. “Every year number one ang San Beda. Hindi ako makapaniwala na nandito pa kami kahit ang dami ng pinagdaanan namin.”
“It’s all about teamwork and hard work.”
And it was all from teamwork indeed.
The Red Lions displayed uncanny ball movement and execution entering the final frame. With San Beda holding a 60-59 lead, the Chiefs were held to zero field goals for the first six minutes of the quarter as the Red Lions went on a hot 13-1 run. Ben Adamos displayed his soft touch during the rampage with three side jumpers, while seven straight points by Soberano, including his sixth triple, gave San Beda a 73-60 lead with 4:14 left.
“We had 20 assists, any coach who sees 20 assists can say that we are doing something really good,” Jarin said about San Beda’s ball movement this game..
Robert Bolick stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Transferee Benedict Adamos added 14 points, six rebounds, and four blocks.
“Ben is coming into age. Sky’s the limit for this man,” Jarin remarked about Adamos.
Jio Jalalon struggled once again against the suffocating San Beda defense. He ended the game with just 14 points on a dismal 4-of-17 shooting. Kent Salado and Donald Gumaru added 11 points apiece.
The Scores:
SBC (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.
AU (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.
