San Beda-Alabang sweeps NCAA-South elims

From Christian Soler/Inboundpass.com

SAN BEDA College-Alabang replicated the feat of its sister school by running the table in the elimination round of NCAA-South Season 12 after a rousing 93-74 win over University of Batangas last Sunday, October 10 at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities Indoor Sports Arena in Tanauan City, Batangas.

The Red Lions broke the game open in the second half after a sluggish opening 20 minutes and managed to buck the ejection of star guard James Panaligan midway through the third period. Forward Ivan Gallardo supplied the offense for coach Aldrin Morante’s unit as he accounted for nine of San Beda-Alabang’s 27 fourth quarter points while helping put the clamps on the Brahmans’ offense.

1. San Beda-Alabang (9-0)

2. FAITH (7-2; +1.048 quotient)

3. Don Bosco (7-2; +1.006 quotient)

4. Perpetual Help Laguna (7-2; +0.950 quotient)

5. PCU-Dasmariñas (4-5)

6. De La Salle Lipa (3-6)

7. Lyceum-Batangas (3-6)

8. University of Batangas (3-6)

9. San Pablo Colleges (2-7)

10. Letran Calamba (0-9)

Gallardo towed four other double-digit scorers from the San Beda-Alabang camp with 18 points. Playmaker Bryan Ramirez paced UB, which played lackluster defense for the majority of the game, with 19 markers. The elimination round sweep was the first in NCAA-South history. But, unlike their counterparts from Mendiola who were awarded an automatic finals ticket with a thrice-to-beat advantage, San Beda-Alabang will still have to go through the Final Four as the top seed with a twice-to-beat shield.

Season 12 host FAITH, meanwhile, clinched the second twice-to-beat semifinal incentive by defeating 2009 runner-up Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas, 85-74. The Bravehearts went the extra mile to claim the victory, however, after trailing the Dolphins by 14 points in the first half. Marvin Javier, Arnelito Amatorio and slotman Pedrian Rutor worked double-time in FAITH’s third quarter uprising, which saw coach Mel Alas’ squad knot the count at the end of 30 minutes. Momentum carried the Bravehearts in the final stretch as they closed out the Dolphins, who once again drew firepower from high-scoring forward Arold Magat’s 28 points.

“Nung umpisa kasi, nag-relax mga bata. They underestimated the opponent, kaya lumaki yung lamang. Nung halftime, I told them sayang naman yung pinaghirapan namin kung ibibigay nila yung game. And sayang yung twice-to-beat advantage. So pagpasok ng third quarter, nag-trap kami and that helped us score 30 points,” Alas, one-time head coach of Adamson University and brother of Colegio de San Juan de Letran strategist Louie, said.

The win over PCU-D was FAITH’s second in as many days after handily defeating Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, 73-62 last October 9. The Patriots, losing finalists in 2008, couldn’t put a lid on the balanced scoring attack of Rutor, Reygie Debulcos and Samuel Santos.

NCAA-South Management Committee chairman Lito Arim was optimistic about his young program’s chances in the Final Four. “We’re hoping for an Orange [FAITH's color] Final. Our team is really preparing for the [upcoming] matchups,” he told inboundpass.

Reigning, back-to-back titlist Don Bosco Technical College and University of Perpetual Help System Laguna ended up tied with the Bravehearts at 7-2, but fell to the number three and four spots, respectively, due to inferior quotients. The defending champion Grey Wolves will take on FAITH, while the Saints have the unenviable task of upending the unbeaten Red Lions in the two semifinal showdowns.

The NCAA-South Final Four will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 20, at the FAITH campus. The winner-take-all Final, meanwhile, is slated for October 23 in the same venue.

The champion of NCAA Season 12 will represent the league in the 2010 Philippine Collegiate Champions League Luzon-Metro Manila zonals. With reports from Chris Lagrio.