Red Lions Eye PCCL Finals Berth

NCAA 3-time champions San Beda College and University of Santo Tomas clash today for a playoff for the second finals berth as action in the Phl Collegiate Champions League Final Four heats up at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Red Lions scrambled at endgame and eked out a heart-stopping 73-72 win over the Southwestern U Cobras, while the Tigers got back at UAAP title tormentor Ateneo Eagles, 76-66, to gain the headstart in the round-robin Final Four phase.

That makes the 4 p.m. encounter between San Beda and UST a match to watch with the winner assuring itself of a playoff for the second finals berth.

The SBC-UST showdown will also feature a coaching duel between Ronnie Magsanoc and Pido Jarencio, who fought many battles during their college days with University of the Phils. and UST, respectively, in the 80s.

“It’s a brand-new ballgame for us because we haven’t really played against UST before,” said Magsanoc, who steered San Beda to this season’s NCAA championship on his rookie year.

“We’ve actually played against each other in 1985, it was my last year and while he’s just a rookie,” said Jarencio in Filipino. “I’m happy he’s coaching now and I think he’ll do great.”

Jarencio will again pin his hopes on Jeric Teng, Cameroonian Karim Abdul and Jeric Fortuna, who came out big in exacting revenge at the Eagles, who swept them in the recent UAAP finals.

Teng sizzled with 22 points, including 17 in the first half, while Abdul had 15 points and Fortuna finished with nine points, eight boards and seven assists.

But Jarencio knows they will have to deal with San Beda’s prolific and quick guards, headed by Baser Amer.

“San Beda is a guard-reliant team and we have to do something about it,” said Jarencio.

Nigerian behemoth Ola Adeogun remained doubtful against UST today after missing San Beda’s game against SWU due to a swollen foot he sustained in a PBA D-League game while playing for Fruitas.

source: Philstar