Lions set up semis faceoff vs Cards

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez knew they would need to slow down the St. Benilde troika of Will Gozum, Robi Nayve and AJ Benson for his Red Lions to have a chance at a win.

They did.

Unleashing its defensive might to the fullest, San Beda shackled CSB in a tension-filled 63-57 victory yesterday to book its 14th straight Final Four appearance in the NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena.

The triumph set up the third-seeded Lions for a semis duel with No. 2 Mapua Cardinals (with a twice-to-beat edge) Sunday. A rubber, if necessary, is Sunday.

In the other game, University of Perpetual Help eliminated Arellano U, 59-52, to arrange another knockout showdown, this time against CSB Wednesday for the last Final Four spot.

The last time the proud San Beda team did not reach the Final Four was in 2005.

Since then, the Lions have been on a rampage, making the finals in all those seasons starting in 2006 and winning a total of 11 titles including a five-peat feat.

Defense did the trick for the Lions against the Blazers as they held Gozum, Nayve and Benson to a measly 24 points combined after the trio averaged around 40 a game.

The Blazers also ended up with a total output way less than their 75-point norm.

“That’s (defense) our first priority,” said Fernandez. “We limited Benson, Gozum was in foul trouble and Nayve was in and out of the game. I commend my players for sticking with the game plan.”

So frustrated was Benson that he was slapped with a flagrant and a technical foul that led to his ejection.

One of those unsportsmanlike fouls was whistled against San Beda’s James Kwekuteye, who sprained his left ankle after a Benson tackle near midcourt with less than two minutes to go.

San Beda’s Yukien Andrada and Franz Abuda were slapped with a technical foul each in separate instances after the Kwekuteye incident.

Kwekuteye never returned after scoring a game-high 17 points including eighth in a pivotal fourth quarter stretch.

Good thing San Beda kept its composure in preserving the win.

Fernandez, however, couldn’t be restrained from lashing out at the officiating.

“We’re not protesting anything. We just want them to check if there were mistakes by their refs. If we are wrong, we will admit it. If they are wrong, they have to acknowledge it. It was really bad. I pity my players,” said Fernandez.

The Blazers, who came here gunning for their first playoffs appearance in two decades, will have another chance of ending the semis drought when they clash with the winner of the University of Perpetual Help-Arellano U game Wednesday.