Red Lions gun for NCC crown

Games today (Ynares Gym, Pasig)

2 p.m. – USC vs UV (Battle for 3rd)

4 p.m. – San Beda vs La Salle (Championship)

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda guns for the clincher but La Salle is out for a payback, guaranteeing another slam-bang showdown in Game Two of the National Collegiate Championship finals at the Ynares Gym in Pasig today.

The Red Lions broke away from a tight, highly physical contest with a strong finishing kick anchored on the talented duo of Baser Amer and Roldan Sara as they pulled off an 88-81 victory in the opener of the best-of-three series last Thursday.

“We just played tough in the first game. If we can sustain that kind of pace and even play better, we’ll have a strong chance of taking this (title),” said San Beda acting coach Adonis Tierra.

But the Archers are expected to come up with the necessary adjustments, not only to slow down Amer and Sara but also to neutralize Nigerian Ola Adeogun in the paint as they try to stop the Lions and force a rubber match.

Ranged against Cameroonian rookie Ben Mbala, Adeogun imposed his will and strength in the first half and finished with 20 points. He rode the bench majority of the second half due to foul woes.

But Amer and Sara were up to the challenge, taking charge and drilling in clutch baskets from the perimeter and beyond the arc to quell the Archers’ repeated rallies.

Mbala, who had to undergo a two-year residency after transferring from Cebu’s Southwestern University, did dish off an impressive double-double game of 26 points and 14 rebounds with four blocks to boot but he was outshone by Adeogun majority of the way.

Another victory by San Beda will cap the Red Lions banner season following their five-peat in the NCAA.

“It’s really not just school pride, but also NCAA pride,” said Tierra as the Lions try to become only the second NCAA team to win the crown. San Sebastian topped the event three years ago.

Meanwhile, University of San Carlos and University of Visayas tangle at 2 p.m. in an All-Cebu faceoff for third place.

The national champion will keep the Manny V. Pangilinan Perpetual Bronze Sculpture, which serves as a symbol of collegiate basketball supremacy.

The winning school and team members will also receive P1 million worth of scholarship assistance, athletic items and gift certificates courtesy of ABS-CBN and media partner The Philippine STAR, Phoenix Petrolium, Molten Balls, Filoil Flying V Sports, Fog City Creamery and Foccacia.

The second to fourth places will receive P450,000, P250,000 and P100,000, respectively.