Lions shackle Chiefs, edge closer to 5-peat

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda fought off Arellano U’s trapping defense and pounced on the Chiefs’ lack of championship poise at endgame to hammer out a 74-66 victory and move in the threshold of a five-peat in the NCAA men’s basketball finals at the MOA Arena in Pasay City yesterday.

Facing a first-timer in the finals, the Red Lions seized control early, slowed down in the face of the tough-defending Chiefs in the middle quarters before unloading another killer run in the fourth to pound out the victory for a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series.

San Beda guns for the clincher in Game Two tomorrow, also at the MOA arena. Another win will not only seal the Red Lions’ fifth straight championship but also their eighth in the last nine for a league-best 19th title.

A decider, if necessary, will be played Saturday.

“We’re happy we won the game but it’s just one game,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

Ace guard Baser Amer dished out a superb all around game for San Beda, drilling in 17 points, making seven assists and grabbing five rebounds.

He also starred in the Lions’ big start of 11 unanswered points with Anthony Semerad providing the solid backup.

“It’s a matter of playing with confidence,” said the 22-year-old Amer.

Nigerian Ola Adeogun turned in a game expected of him – 14 points and 14 rebounds with four blocks and three assists to boot.

“I don’t mind about my stats. I’m thinking more of helping the team win,” said Adeogun.

For Arellano coach Jerry Codinera, they just succumbed to championship pressure.

“We didn’t level up, we felt the jitters,” said Codinera, who steered the Chiefs to their first ever finals appearance since joining the league five years ago.

But the Legarda-based squad hopes to settle down in Game Two and make the necessary adjustment to force a decider, spoil San Beda’s crack at five-peat and complete its remarkable campaign.

Earlier, the Mapua Red Robins shut down the San Beda Cubs in the fourth quarter and came away with an 84-75 victory to likewise move one win away from clinching the juniors plum, their first since going all the way 14 years ago.

Mapua is currently tied with San Beda with 20 high school titles.

“It’s been a while since the school won a high school championship,” said Mapua mentor Randy Alcantara, who started coaching six years ago when they went from zero to five, nine, 10, 11, 12  wins before wracking up 16 victories this year.

Warren Bonifacio led the Robins with 18 points but it was David Velvez who stepped up at crunchtime, hitting nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter that shattered the 63-all count en route to victory.