San Beda University unleashed its fury from three-point range to smash Lyceum of the Philippines University in their do-or-die game yesterday, 82-72, to earn the right to meet Mapua University for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 men’s basketball crown.
It was a huge win by the Red Lions against the twice-to-beat Pirates, who had absorbed an 89-68 lacing previously from the Mendiola-based squad.
Now that San Beda got past its semis assignment, next up will be Mapua on 6 December at the Mall of Asia Arena for Game 1 of the best-of-three title series.
In securing a final seat, the Lions had to bank on their outside shooting with rookie Jomel Puno, who had a double-double game of 15 points and 10 rebounds, providing firepower going into the dying minutes, including a triple that gave San Beda a74-61 lead.
Counting Puno’s conversion from afar, San Beda made a total of 13 hits from downtown in the game played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For Lions head coach Yuri Escueta, it was just about adapting to the defense of Lyceum.
“We teach our players to take whatever the defense gives us. If the threes are given, we’ll take them,” said Escueta, who is making his first NCAA Finals appearance.
“I trust my players in making the right decisions and practicing their shots,” he said.
James Payosing led the Lions also with a double-double game of 18 points and 10 rebounds while Nygel Gonzales dropped 11 points behind a 4-of-7 shooting clip.
This is the first time in 32 years that San Beda will be facing Mapua for the NCAA plum.
In 2019, San Beda made it to the finals but Letran won the battle.
Last time the Lions won an NCAA diadem was in 2018.
Heading into their encounter with the Cardinals, which needed just one game to dispatch College of Saint Benilde in the Final Four, Escueta feels the key to victory is keeping their composure all-game long.
“We always focus on us… We’ll be prepared for them but we won’t be obsessed.”
Main Pirates gunner Enoch Valdez shot 28 points.
Lyceum will try to make up for its heartbreaking campaign when it takes on the Blazers for third place 10 December with Valdez no longer playing.
Game 2 of the Mapua-San Beda duel takes place on 10 December also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
If it goes to a decider, Game 3 will be held on 17 December at the Big Dome.
