Red Lions, Chiefs duel for title

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion San Beda is back in the finals.

The Red Lions turned the tables on the Letran Knights in the last four minutes, and posted a 64-61 win Sunday in the semifinals of the Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup at the Trinity University of Asia gymnasium in Quezon City.

They leaned on an 11-3 windup to get past the Knights and arrange a finals showdown with the Arellano U Chiefs on Sunday.

The Chiefs banked on Vergel Zulueta and AJ Serjue at endgame to put away the National U Bulldogs, 59-56, and earn their first ever finals stint.

Julius Armon unloaded 16 points, but it was the heroics of Romeo de la Rosa, Kyle Pascual and Anjo Caram which saved the day for the Red Lions.

Behind by five points in the last 7:45, De la Rosa, Pascual and Caram put the Red Lions back on top, 61-55, four minutes later.

Kevin Alas showed the way for the Knights with 18 points, including nine in the first period, where Letran led, 21-6.

Serjue powered the Chiefs with 15 points, and kept the Chiefs out of trouble in the last 3.8 seconds with his split free throws.

As the Bulldogs tied the count for the last time, 54-all on Alfred Aroga’s charity, the Chiefs managed to move away behind a Zulueta trey with 54.2 seconds to go.