Lions, Warriors cruise to Final 4

San Beda drew strength from the return of Sam Ekwe as it smothered Viz-Min champion University of Visayas, 84-68, yesterday to join University of the East in the semifinals of the Collegiate Champions League at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Ekwe, this year’s NCAA rookie MVP, dominated the boards with 23 rebounds and had 12 points to power the Red Lions to the Final Four against winner of the Letran-Jose Rizal quarterfinal duel.

The Nigerian center also had four blocks, three steals and two assists to cap a superb all-around game.

"It’s a good thing we rested him the last time, he had a lot of energy in this game," said San Beda mentor Koy Banal. Ekwe sat out his team’s win over National U due to a knee injury.

UV’s Von Lanete and Claifford Rodriguez fired 22 points each but failed to get enough support from their teammates.

Earlier, University of the East leaned on its vaunted full-court press as it routed NCAA runner-up Philippine Christian U, 74-55, to barge into the next round.

Kelvin Gregorio led the Warriors with 14 points and nine rebounds but it was their unrelenting trap defense that led to the victory for the Recto-based dribblers.

UE forced PCU to turn the ball over 27 times resulting to 24 fastbreak points to seal the win. The Warriors will face the winner of the Ateneo-Mapua duel today.

"Our defense started to pick up in the second quarter, that was the key," said UE coach Dindo Pumaren.