San Beda Ready For Back-To-Back Campaign, Diffuses Bombers

San Beda College advanced to the NCAA men’s basketball finals for the sixth straight time yesterday, and surprisingly, it came like a waltz.

The Red Lions played like there was nothing big at stake, but nonetheless proved they’ve got enough in their arsenal to bring down Jose Rizal University, 83-74, and seal a return trip to the finals of the league they have been dominating for the past six seasons.

“My boys are in pretty good shape. By this time, they should be there (in the finals peaking),” said coach Frankie Lim, looking cool as ever in the whole game as if his charges had not been into two excruciating games against San Sebastian College prior to yesterday’s Final Four.

Add to that the fact the Red Lions entered the Arena in San Juan City without much pressure, owing to the twice-to-beat advantage they were carrying for topping the two-round elimination for the fifth straight time also.

Rome de la Rosa, Dave Marcelo, and the two Pascuals in the team — Kyle and Jake, alternated well on offense for the Red Lions who dominated the Heavy Bombers all game long.

But it was Marcelo who made the biggest impact for the Red Lions with his excellent shot blocking and rebounding prowess against a stunned JRU squad.

Marcelo pulled down 10 rebounds and swathed seven enemy attempts at the basket while coming away with 16 points of his own.

The Red Lions posted their biggest lead at 19 (59-42) midway through the third quarter. The Heavy Bombers never came close to overhauling that, not even when the Lions were hounded by a spate of errors and misses.

It’s because the Heavy Bombers themselves played sloppy on both ends, especially on offense where they wasted plenty of scoring chances.

The closest they ever got into was at six points, 72-78, on John Lopez’s follow-up shot with a little over a minute left, but San Beda sank five straight free throws against JRU’s solitary basket in the last 40.6 seconds.

The loss ended the Heavy Bombers’ mighty run that started late in the second round elimination where they strung up five straight victories, including a 76-65 win over the Red Lions.

“You have to give credit to coach Vergel Meneses. They (Heavy Bombers) are a well-coached team,” said Lim.

Nate Matute led the Heavy Bombers with 21 points while John Lopez added 12 points and 13 rebounds.

source: Arman Carandang, TDT