UAAP, NCAA champs duel for Filoil title

Games tomorrow

2 p.m. – CEU vs SWU

4 p.m. – San Beda vs La Salle

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle fought back from eight points down to beat Southwestern U, 72-64, while San Beda survived a rallying Centro Escolar U side, 63-62, yesterday to seal a duel of the UAAP and NCAA champions for the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup crown at The Arena in San Juan.

The Archers held Cameroonian behemoth Landro Sanjo, who normed 19 points in the elims to the quarters, to just four points on a horrific two-of-nine shooting while clamping down on the rest of the SWU shooters in the second half to hammer out the come-from-behind victory.

Two days after outgunning the Far Eastern U Tams, 94-89, in the quarterfinals, the Archers leaned on their vaunted defensive stand, limiting their Cebuano rivals to 25 second-half points to pound out the win.

“We put in the same defensive game plan we used in the Cebu leg today (yesterday),” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler. “Of course, the big factor here was how my bigs executed defensively against (Landro) Sanjo.”

Sauler also lauded Arnold Van Opstal and Norbert Torres for stepping up against the Cebuanos.

Later in the day, the Red Lions took control in the first three quarters but needed to thwart the Scorpions’ repeated rallies in the stretch to nail the win and arrange a title rematch with the Archers.

La Salle beat San Beda, 89-81, in the 2007 finals of the premier pre-season tournament.

The Archers and the Lions are also in their fourth finals appearances with former winning back-to-back from 2006-07 and losing to National U two years ago and San Beda losing all three chances, including to University of the East in 2008 and Ateneo in 2011.

“It’s nice to be back to finals for San Beda and it’s champion versus champion,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez, who hopes to finally put one over the Archers.

“We lost badly in a tune up against La Salle, drew the next in a benefit game and lost again to them in the PCCL. Hopefully, we’ll get to win against them this time,” said Fernandez.

The Scorpions, unbeaten in seven games going to the finals, almost pulled off another upset as they struck back after trailing from the start, forced a tie at endgame but missed a potential game-winning jumper by Carlo Casino at the buzzer that bounced off the ring.

CEU though has nothing to be ashamed of as it became the first non-UAAP and NCAA team to make the semis.

Van Opstal and Torres alternated in containing Sanjo while coming through with a combined 23 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.

Almond Vosotros led all scorers with 19 points, including clutch baskets, while collegiate hotshot Jeron Teng added 14 markers.

The Cobras appeared to have gained momentum after a shaky start, leading the Archers, 39-35, in the first half behind seven triples.

Fil-Am Jasper Parker waxed hot with 13 points, including three triples. He finished with 19 points, six boards and five assists, including a nifty pass to Sanjo, who gave SWU a 46-38 lead with 6.18 minutes left in the third quarter.

The scores:

First Game

La Salle 72 – Vosotros 19, Teng 14, N. Torres 12, Van Opstal 11, Perkins 5, Andrada 4, T. Torres 3, Sargent 2, Rivero 2, Montalbo 0, Mustre 0, Bolick 0

SWU 64 – Parker 17, Tallo 14, Pardo 9,  Mohammed 8, Sanjo 4, Goloran 4, Luz 4, Bregondo 4, Aboude 0, Acuno 0

Quarterscores: 24-16; 35-39; 56-51; 72-64

Second Game

San Beda 63 – Adeogun 16, Dela Cruz 15, Amer 8, Pascual 6, Koga 6, Mendoza 6, A. Semerad 4, Cabanag 2, Ludovice 0, Tongco 0, Mocon 0, D. Semerad 0

CEU 62 – de Leon 16, Batino 12, Jeruta 8, Abundo 7, Casino 5, Mutombo 5, Ebondo 4, Opiso 3, Sedurifa 2

Quarterscores: 19-12; 37-29; 54-46; 63-62