Red Cubs now set to defend the crown

San Beda Red Cubs and San Sebastian Staglets stamped their class over their respective Final Four rivals and came away with a pair of double-digit victories to arrange a showdown for the NCAA juniors basketball crown at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

The Red Cubs blasted the Letran Knights, 92-80, while Staglets broke away in the fourth quarter to beat the Perpetual Help Altalettes, 87-76, in their own side of the semis duel.

The two fancied teams thus advanced to the best-of-three title series set next week. They last disputed the crown three years ago with the Stags emerging as champion.

Baser Amer barely missed a triple double, scoring 22 points, pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing off nine assists to power the Red Cubs, which topped the double-round robin elims with a 14-2 slate, to victory.