San Beda foiled a late surge by a depleted Letran squad to eke out a thrilling 82-76 win and storm into the 85th NCAA basketball tournament finals for the fourth straight time on Friday at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Red Lions’ win set them up to a best-of-three duel with either San Sebastian College or Jose Rizal University starting on Oct.23.
The Heavy Bombers forced a rubber match for the second finals berth with a 72-65 win over the Stags, who owns the second twice-to-beat incentive.
The Heavy Bombers pounced on the absence of Stags top gunner Jimbo Aquino before they banked on a crucial triple by Cameroon Nchotu Njei in the closing minutes to score only their first win over the Stags this season but which set up the KO match on Monday.
The Stags have beaten Jose Rizal twice, 91-76 in the first round and 84-78 in the second round.
Without Aquino, who norms 20.6 points per game, the Stags struggled and bowed to their third straight defeat this week. The Stags were also beaten twice by San Beda this week, the last time Wednesday, 71-65, in a match for the No. 1 spot.
As in the past, the Red Lions and the Knights fought furiously from the very start but the clutch shooting from the stripe by veteran Borgie Hermida at crunch time spelled the difference.
The 5-foot-9 Hermida finished with only two points but his pressure-packed free throw off John Foronda’s foul proved lethal as the Lions beat the Knights for the fifth straight time since last season.
Hermida’s charity gave the Lions a commanding 80-76 lead with 15.3 ticks to go after the Knights overhauled a nine-point deficit and moved within 76-79 on a Kirk Del Rosario drive.
The Red Lions came into the game armed with a twice-to-beat advantage after topping the elims but there was no need to use it as they showed steely resolve to dash Letran’s hope of forcing a winner-take-all in their Final Four series.
“We got invited to the finals,” Red Lions mentor Frankie Lim said. “We got an invitation to the party and we have to attend it.”
First Game (Srs)
SAN BEDA 82 — Dela Rosa 17, Lanete 17, Daniel 16, Pascual 12, Gamalinda 9, Marcelo 4, Tecson 3, Hermida 2, Caram 2, Tirona 0.
LETRAN 76 — Kev. Alas 24, Jazul 15, Gutilban 15, Cortes 8, Foronda 5, Kris. Alas 5, Del Rosario 4, Belencion 0, Datang 0.
Quarters: 18-19, 32-35, 58-53, 82-76.
Second Game (Srs)
JOSE RIZAL 72 — Njei 15, Hayes 15, Cagoco 10, Sean 10, Wilson 6, Bulangis 6, Agas 5, Lopez 4, Etame 1, Matute 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 65 — Pascual 23, Abueva 13, Del Rio 10, Semira 8, Najorda 6, Gatchalian 3, Bulawan 2, Raymundo 0, Sangalang 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 30-28, 46-46, 72-65.
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