Led by Yousif Aljamal and power-slamming Nigerian Sam Ekwe, the reigning NCAA champion Red Lions stopped the Heavy Bombers giant-slaying ways with a 61-58 victory to join the Warriors in the finals set Sunday at the same venue.
UE advanced to the championship earlier as it scored an emphatic 83-74 win over Mapua to avert an all-NCAA finale and save the day for the UAAP, which saw finalists Ateneo and reigning champion Santo Tomas fall one after the other in the knockout format event featuring the country’s top collegiate teams.
Aljamal, the 2006 NCAA finals MVP, carried the scoring load for San Beda as he fired 17 points while Ekwe, this year’s rookie MVP, hauled down 12 rebounds and made four shot blocks.
"We know Jose Rizal has something to prove so we expected the Bombers to come out strong, and they did in this game," said San Beda coach Koy Banal.
The Warriors, on the other hand, drew strength from a sweet-shooting Fhadzmir Bandaying, who scattered 17 points, including nine from behind the arc.
Bandaying, a rookie from Zamboanga, also drew support from Mark Borboran and Marcy Arellano.
Borboran had 14 points and 11 rebounds while Arellano had a near triple-double with 14 points, eight assists and seven boards he spiked with three steals.
"We pressured their guards because we know they will have trouble without (Kelvin) dela Peña," said UE mentor Dindon Pumaren.
Dela Peña didn’t see action for the Cardinals, who eliminated the Eagles in the quarterfinals, for the second straight game.
The Ariel Vanguardia-mentored Bombers, who booted out the Tigers in the round-of-16 two weeks ago, kept the game close throughout but failed to unleash a strong finishing kick.
Jose Rizal and Mapua dispute third place honors, also on Sunday.