Red Lions, Lady Bulldogs reign in Martin Cup

MANILA, Philippines - The defending champion San Beda Red Lions clinched a three-peat in the men’s division while the National U Lady Bulldogs claimed their first ever women’s crown Saturday in the eighth Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball finals.

Jake Pascual banged in a game-high 20 points, while Julius Armon hit 16 points,  Romeo de la Rosa and Ola Adeogun fired 15 and 14 points, respectively, to help the Red Lions breeze past the Arellano University Chiefs, 89-66, in the winner-take-all men’s finals at the Trinity University of Asia gymnasium in Quezon City.

 The Lady Bulldogs squandered a 14-point advantage, and relied on a triple from Ma. Teresa Pama to bail them out of trouble and bag their first ever women’s plum with a 72-67 triumph over the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers.

Baser Amer provided 10 points for the Red Lions, and he made four points during a decisive 10-0 run in the last two minutes of the second period.

Amer’s timely baskets allowed the Red Lions to turn the tables around on the Chiefs, who last led 28-27, off a triple by Rocky Acidre with 5:02 to go.

With the Chiefs’ prized recruit Keith Agovida held to just nine points all throughout, the Red Lions had little trouble moving further ahead after they posted a 12-point, 42-30 spread off Armon’s trey with 1:19 left, and before the end of the first half.