Duel of the Best: Eagles, Lions set blockbuster finale

MANILA, Philippines - The “Showdown of Champions” between UAAP titlist Ateneo and NCAA kingpin San Beda was forged yesterday in varying fashions, setting the stage for an expected epic showdown for the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Premier Cup crown.

The Blue Eagles played its usual role as spoiler to erstwhile unbeaten Far Eastern U, 82-74, while the Red Lions turned back Adamson, 82-78, in yesterday’s Final Four at The Arena to set the stage for their you-or-me, who-is-the-real-boss titular encounter.

“They (Lions) are one of the best teams in the country, it should be a very competitive game,” Ateneo coach Norman Black, whose wards made it to the summer league’s finale for the very first time, said on their face off with SBC tomorrow.

Getting more adjusted to the Ateneo system, new recruit Greg Slaughter imposed his will inside, knocking down 24 points, including a split freethrow and two clutch baskets in the final 2:41 to lift the Eagles over the same crew they beat in last year’s UAAP finals.

“Greg Slaughter made the huge difference for us, especially inside the paint,” Black said of the Gilas slotman, who shot 10 points in the fourth to quash FEU’s fightback from 16-points down, along with 14 rebounds and one block.

RR Garcia and Aldrech Ramos scored 15 apiece for FEU, the 2010 UAAP runner-up whose coach Bert Flores was ejected on account of two successive technical fouls for accosting the referees with 6:52 in the third. Ateneo sank the four ensuing freebies to take a 53-37 tear.

Earlier, the Red Lions turned to Nigerian big man Ola Adeogun down the stretch in securing a championship slot, their finals appearance since 2008.

The six-foot-six Adeogun fired eight points, highlighted by two putbacks, a undergoal stab and two charities, in a lethal 8-0 blast that gave San Beda a 79-72 cushion with 34.1 seconds left.

“It’s an ugly win but a win is a win and we’re in the finals,” said SBC coach Frankie Lim, ruing his wards’ 18 turnovers in the tight contest. “Ola had big shots in the end, he lifted us in the last three minutes.”

SBC missed rookie Baser Amer, who was hospitalized Thursday night due to high fever. Fellow guards Paolo Pontejos and Anjo Caram did the work of trying to clamp down on AdU’s Lester Alvarez and Jerick Canada. Alvarez, who had 27 in the quarterfinals, finished with 20 but had only three points in the payoff period.

Garvo Lanete, who had back-to-back treys at the start of the fourth, led the way for SBC with 15, the same output as Adeogun, who also grabbed 12 rebounds.