Lions go for kill in PCCL finals

Games Monday

(Ynares Gym, Pasig)

2 p.m. – USC vs UV (Battle for 3rd)

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

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda seeks to finish off La Salle Monday and claim its first ever title in the 2014 Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Ynares Gym in Pasig City.

Drawing strength from Nigerian behemoth Ola Adoegun and the diminutive but sweet-shooting duo of Baser Amer and Roldan Sara, the Lions turned back the Archers, 88-81, Thursday in a highly-physical duel to move on the threshold of their first ever crown in the annual league.

Adeogun bullied Cameroonian rookie Ben Mbala and finished with 20 points despite sitting most of the second half with foul trouble.

In Adeogun's absence, Amer and Sara took charge and canned the outside shots that fended off repeated rallies unleashed by the Archers to help the Lions seal Game One and gain a 1-0 lead.

"We just played tough in the first game. If we can sustain that kind of pace and even play better, we'll have a strong chance of taking this," said San Beda acting coach Adonis Tierra in Filipino.

Mbala, who had to undergo a two-year residency after transferring from Cebu's Southwestern University, had a game-highs 26 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks but he was dwarfed by Adeogun majority of the way.

And Tierra knows Adeogun will be crucial in their campaign.

"Ola must play tough and not let Mbala get his groove," said Tierra.

If San Beda eventually takes Game Two, it will become only the second team from the NCAA to win the event, which is now on its 12th season, after San Sebastian went all the way three years back.

Game Three, if necessary, is set tomorrow.

"It's really not just school pride, but also NCAA pride," said Tierra.

Meanwhile, University of San Carlos and University of Visayas will clash at 2 p.m. in an All-Cebu, one-game battle for third place.

The national champion will hold for the whole year the Manny V. Pangilinan Perpetual Bronze Sculpture. "Abutin Ang Tangumpayu," which serves as a symbol of collegiate basketball supremacy.

Aside from that, the school and team members receive P1 million worth of scholarship assistance, athletic items and gift certificates courtesy of ABS-CBN and media partners The Philippine STAR, Phoenix Petroleum, Molten Balls, Filoil Flying V Sports, Fog City Creamery and Foccacia.

The second to fourth places will wind up with P450,000, P250,000 and P100,000, respectively.