Lions book Final 4 top spot

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda flexed its defensive muscles, neutralizing reigning MVP CJ Perez as the Red Lions repulsed the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, 75-68, yesterday to claim Final Four top seeding in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

In a duel between the highest scoring team and the best defending squad, the latter prevailed as the Lions held Perez to nine points and the Pirates to one of their lowest outputs in the season.

Perez was averaging 19.2 points while the Pirates normed 87.6 an outing heading to the game.

“It’s not easy to hold the league MVP to a single-digit output and the league’s best offensive team to just 68. It’s really our defense that got us through,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

With the win, the Red Lions secured the No. 1 seeding in the Final Four with a 16-1 win-loss card.

LPU settled for the second spot with a 15-3 mark. The Pirates play No. 3 Letran in the semifinals.

LPU trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter but waged one final rally in the fourth quarter only to fall short in the end.

It didn’t help that the Pirates threw bricks from the free throw line, missing 15 of 19 attempts.

“It’s one of those days. But what’s good about it, we missed a lot of free throws but we’re still there,” said Robinson.

Perez took responsibility for their loss.

“San Beda didn’t stop me, I stopped myself,” said Perez.

Fil-Canadian rookie James Kwekuteye dished out a career-high effort with 18 points that drew praises from his coach and leader Robert Bolick.

“He’s the future of San Beda,” said Fernandez of Kwekuteye.

“He has the potential. What he needs to improve is his decision-making. He will learn that through experience,” said Bolick.