IT wasn’t pretty but San Beda, stifled by a defense-minded University of the Philippines (UP), pulled through in the clutch for a 65-56 win to advance to the semifinals of the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup on Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
From a slim 27-26 half-time lead, the Red Lions methodically pulled away and looked to blow out UP after a Joe Presbitero triple to open the fourth period and a 48-33 lead.
The Fighting Maroons, however, didn’t crumble as they forced the Red Lions into a series of turnovers that trimmed the deficit to five, 61-56, with 41 ticks left.
The Red Lions answered with defense as Arnaud Noah stripped Diego Dario of the ball and hit two pressure-packed free throws to somewhat dampen UP’s endgame charge. Presbitero hit two more free throws with 20 seconds left for the game’s final points.
The win, San Beda’s ninth straight, sent them back to the semifinals that they missed for the first time last season.
“It’s good to be back,” said San Beda head Coach Boyet Fernandez. “I told the boys that if we want to win against UP, we have to execute because UP is a very good defensive team. We had a tough time in the fourth because we weren’t able to execute properly. But a win is a win.”
Robert Bolick Jr. and Noah led the Red Lions’ stand in the fourth period and finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively.
For UP, only center Ibrahim Quattara scored in double digits with 22 points to go with his 15 rebounds.
Joining San Beda in the final four are two other National Collegiate Athletic Association teams—Lyceum of the Philippines University, which defeated San Sebastian, 86-71; and Jose Rizal University, which saw Teytey Teodoro bombarding Adamson University from the outside for a 67-56 victory.
The Pirates hit five triples in the last five minutes to break wide open a close match against the Stags.
Sniper Spencer Pretta caught fire toward the end of the first half and the cushion he helped build was enough to hold off San Sebastian.
The Stags held a 25-24 lead after a JM Calma free throw at the 5:41 mark of the second period when Pretta unloaded a triple off a CJ Perez assist.
Mike Nzeusseu followed up with a trey and Pretta hit two more with Yosi Tansingco adding one. By the time the carnage was over, Lyceum held a 43-35 lead going into the half.
The Pirates hit three more long bombs in and they punctuated their 20 third-period points with a Perez dunk for a 63-49 lead.
The Pirates raced to a 23-point lead after backup point guard Raymar Caduyac scored on a lay-up, 82-69.
San Sebastian made one last-ditch rally as it trimmed the deficit to 14. But Pretta doused water on the Stags’ fire with another triple.
It was a sweet victory for the Pirates as they booked their first-ever semifinals seat in the tournament. Lyceum Head Coach Topex Robinson made no bones about his desire to beat his former team that he coached several years ago.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza