Lions drive for No 5 vs Chiefs today

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda sets out to finish off Arellano U in their best-of-three series today, join the elite circuit of five-peat champions in the NCAA and bolster its claim as the most dominant team in the league the last 10 years.

With their vast championship experience, the Lions overpowered the first-timer Chiefs and ran away with a 74-66 victory in Monday’s opener. Unless Arellano comes up with an answer to San Beda’s superb all-around game, the Lions could be on their way to their fifth straight championship.

Only three teams have won five straight in the country’s oldest league, Mapua from 1968-72 and San Beda in 2009-13 in juniors division and San Sebastian from 1993-97 in seniors play.

Gametime is at 1:30 p.m. at the MOA Arena in Pasay City with the Lions also gunning for their 19th seniors crown overall.

“We know we’re coming into the series armed with the championship experience,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez, also trying to leave the league with another crown before moving to the PBA with NLEX. “In Game One, we showed it and took advantage of the other team’s lack of championship experience.”

San Beda imposed its will and strength early and led by many as 15 points and never trailed. Arellano, in its first finals stint since joining the league five years ago, actually overcame that big deficit and forced a 31-all count early in the second quarter but just couldn’t sustain their fightback and cracked when the going got tough.

In contrast, the Lions, who have made the finals the last nine seasons, winning seven of the last eight, including a four-peat, showed poise and class to regain control en route to the win.

Nigerian Ola Adeogun, who had a double-double game of 14 points and 14 rebounds, and playmaker Baser Amer, who topscored with 17 points and dished off seven assists, are again expected to spearhead the Lions’ charge along with Fil-Aussie Anthony Semerad.

Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera, meanwhile, hopes to draw the best from pro-bound Prince Caperal and Nards Pinto along Jio Jalalon, a member of the Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team and the Most Improved Player awardee, and gunner Levi Hernandez, who was held scoreless in Game One.

American Dioncee Holts had 11 points but he was outplayed all-game by Adeogun, who also had four blocks and three assists.

In the juniors’ finals, the Mapua Red Robins also go for a sweep against the Red Cubs at 11 a.m. 

Mapua trounced San Beda, the reigning five-peat champion, with an 84-75 win in Game One, also last Monday, with another win netting the Red Robins their 21st crown and reclaiming Mapua’s old status as the most titled high school team in the league.

“We just want to give the title back to Mapua, that’s what we are all striving for,” said Mpua mentor Randy Alcantara.