San Beda beats Jose Rizal for 3rd straight NCAA title
By JP ABCEDE
Manila Bulletin
San Beda College turned yesterday's deciding Game 3 into a virtual scrimmage, plastering Jose Rizal University, 85-69, to win its third straight NCAA seniors basketball championship at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.
The Bombers were never in the match after the Lions extended a 35-18 halftime lead to 59-40, with 4:12 left in the third quarter. Ogie Menor led a 14-5 tear in the third, scoring seven of his 18 points. He also had eight rebounds and shot 7-of-9 from the two-point area.
"It boiled down on proper execution defensively and offensively," said San Beda coach Frankie Lim. "My guys played well."
After two matches that went down the wire, Game 3 was devoid of drama and excitement as the Lions stamped their class early before 20,360 fans.
"We will bring the war to them. Sila naman guluhin natin," Lim told his players in the locker room prior to the game. "Start aggressive, start strong, and control the game."
It marked the second time the Lions completed a hat-trick of victories. The first came from 1934 to 1936. The title was the Lions' 14th, just two short of Letran's 16 championships.
Finals MVP Sam Ekwe led the champs with 20 points, 19 rebounds, and three blocks in 36 minutes.
"He (Ekwe) did a great job on (James) Sena. He stopped (Jayson) Nocom from hitting those outside shots," Lim said. "He is the MVP of the finals and of the season. He deserved it."
Ekwe and Pong Escobal went three-for-three in their NCAA career. The Talk 'N Text draftee finished his last game with 11 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.
Other Lions who scored in double figures were Jake Pascual with 13 points, who also had seven rebounds, three blocks, and three assists, and Borgie Hermida with 11 points.
"It looked easy but it was not very easy," Lim remarked.
The Lions dominated in a number of statistical departments. They shot 45 percent from the field, and limited the Heavy Bombers to 35 percent shooting. SBC also outrebounded JRU, 53-32, 19 of those coming from the offensive end, which led to 17 second chance points. Jose Rizal only had 11 offensive boards for nine second chance points.
The Lions also had its running game humming with 14 fastbreak points, compared to seven by JRU.
The scores:
SBC 85 - Ekwe 20, Menor 18, Pascual 13, Escobal 11, Hermida 11, Tecson 6, Taganas 4, Gamalinda 2, Marcelo 0.
JRU 69 - Sena 24, Cagoco 16, Njei 8, Nocom 7, Bulangis 3, Wilson 3, Pradas 3, Kabigting 2, Hayes 2, Agas 1.
Quarters: 24-12, 38-29, 64-48, 85-69.
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Note: This originally appeared in The Manila Bulletin.
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