Roarin’ Lions, Tigers show way in Final 4

Reigning NCAA champion San Beda survived a fourth quarter meltdown to nip Southwestern U, 73-72, while University of Santo Tomas used a big run bridging both halves to get back at UAAP tormentor Ateneo, 76-66, in the Final Four of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Final Four at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

“Nakatsamba din (We finally snatched one),” said UST coach Pido Jarencio, whose wards were swept by the Eagles in last month’s UAAP finale. “This one’s for the whole UST community.”

Jeric Teng exploded with 22 points, including 17 in the first half when UST wrested control at 42-32 after trailing by two in the first quarter, while Cameroonian Karim Abdul backed him up with 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.

Playmaker Jeric Fortuna also dished out a superb all-around game of nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Tigers, who will shoot for at least a tie for a finals berth against the Red Lions tomorrow.

Although Ateneo played minus its multi-titled coach Norman Black, now with Talk n Text in the PBA, Jarencio still considered the win a sweet revenge.

“Hindi naman ito UAAP, mas masarap sana dyan ang bawi pero hindi natin maiiwasan magkita dito kaya masarap na rin (This is not the UAAP and it would have been better to beat them there but it’s still a good win),” said Jarencio.

Nico Salva, Kiefer Ravena, Greg Slaughter and Chris Sumalinog combined for 46 points for the Eagles, handled by Gabby Severino, but the Tigers simply outran, outplayed and outgunned them majority of the way.

Earlier, the Red Lions earlier flirted with disaster but held on to foil the Southern regional titlists and move closer to a dream stint in the finals.

The Lions nearly blew a 17-point fourth quarter lead as the Cobras fought back with a 22-point explosion in that stretch while holding their rivals to just six markers.

But SWU squandered its last chance to steal the game as guard Benito Nalos unwittingly allowed the time to expire, literally letting San Beda escape with a win and frustrating coach Yayoy Alcoseba no end.

“I guess a win is a win and it’s better to almost lose than almost win,” said San Beda coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

Jake Pascual stepped up in the absence of Nigerian Ola Adeogun, who sat out with a swollen foot, and came through with a double-double effort of 17 points and 12 rebounds while Baser Amer and Ryusei Koga scattered 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Lions.

Cameroonian Benoit M-bala fired 27 points on a 10-of-21 performance from the field and hit seven of nine charities for SWU. He also had seven boards, four blocks and a steal.

But the Lions managed to limit Monbert Arong to 13 points after burying eight triples in his last two games. He made one attempt from the long range and missed it.

“It helped us a lot that we were able to take away Arong’s outside shots,” said Magsanoc.

San Beda led by as many as 20 points, 66-46, late in the third period and appeared headed to a cruise with a 17-point lead at the start of the fourth.

The scores:

First Game

San Beda 73 – Pascual 17, Amer 15, Koga 12, Caram 9, Dela Cruz 7, K. Pascual 6, Dela Rosa 4, Ludovice 3, Mendoza 0

SWU 72 – M-bala 27, Arong 13, Aboude 8, Guillena 8, Nalos 7, Bregondo 6, Ortuyo 3, Goloran 0, Dedace 0

Quarterscores: 23-19; 46-29; 67-50; 73-72

Second Game

UST 76 – Teng 22, Abdul 15, Fortuna 9, Ferrer 8, Afuang 8, Mariano 5, Bautista 3, Vigil 2, Pe 2, Daquioag 2, Lo 0

Ateneo 66 – Salva 13, Ravena 12, Slaughter 11, Sumalinmog 10, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 5, Golla 2, Buenafe 2, Capacio 2, Pessumal 0, Chua 0, Elorde 0

Quarterscores: 16-18; 42-32; 59-46; 76-66