Lions maul Archers in Game 1

Games Monday (Ynares Gym, Pasig)

2 p.m. – USC vs UV (Battle for 3rd)

4 p.m. – San Beda vs La Salle (Game Two)

MANILA, Philippines - Baser Amer and Roldan Sara took over when Ola Adeogun struggled with foul woes as San Beda outplayed La Salle midway in the fourth to hack out an 88-81 victory and move a win from nailing its first National Collegiate Championship crown at the Ynares Gym in Pasig City yesterday.

The match headed to a down-to-the-wire finish after a see-saw battle three-fourths of the way and in the early going of the fourth until Amer and Sara, teammates way back through their Red Cubs days, hit clutch jumpers to anchor the Red Lions’ strong finishing kick for a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series.

“One down, one to go,” said San Beda acting coach Adonis Tierra, whose charges are seeking to become the second NCAA squad to win in the 12-year-old league after San Sebastian reigned three years ago.

With Adeogun watching helplessly from the bench after committing his fourth foul midway in the third period, Amer and Sara stepped up late in the third and in the final canto to frustrate the two-time champion Archers, who reached the finals with a sweep of their four matches in Cebu and Manila.

Game Two is set Monday while a deciding Game Three, if necessary, will be played Tuesday.

The 6-9 Adeogun finished with 20 points while hounding the fancied La Salle Cameroonian rookie Ben Mbala, who still came through with 26 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in 25 minutes.

Arthur dela Cruz scattered 14 points while drawing Mbala’s fourth foul late in the third period.

But it was Amer and Sara who made the biggest plays at endgame.

Amer, who exploded for 16 points in the second half of his team’s 87-68 win over NCAA rival Arellano University in an Elite Eight game last Tuesday, ended up with 19 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals while Sara chipped in 15, highlighted by four triples.

Tierra said he’s happy Adeogun lived up to his promise to take it hard on Mbala, who overpowered the former in La Salle’s 61-56 victory in their first faceoff last week.

“He (Adeogun) told me before the game he’ll bring it to Mbala. I’m happy he did,” said Tierra.