Jharmaine Lecciones took charge to lead San Beda University in an 83-77 squeaker against College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills that clinched the twice-to-beat incentive in the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball tournament on Thursday.
San Beda and LSGH will be pitted against each other in the Final Four round with the Red Cubs enjoying the playoff bonus. Colegio de San Juan de Letran, who also has a twice-to-beat advantage, will take on Mapua University in the other side of the bracket.
The Red Cubs were initially staring at a 10-point deficit midway in the second period but the Mendiola crew made sure to end the half strongly, trimming their disadvantage to just four, 38-42.
Before Lecciones took over in the fourth, it was Joaquin Wagan and John Lopez who did the most of the work in the third period with the duo conniving to power a 17-8 closing run as they regained the lead, 60-58.
Then it was Lecciones who handled the business in the payoff period, fueling a quick 13-0 rampage as their lead ballooned to 13, 73-60. But the Greenies were able to chop that deficit to just three, 77-74, with Seven Gagate igniting from deep.
The 6-foot-8 Gagate and Christian Mesias had the chance to tie things up but they both went wide on their triple attempts as Lecciones, who had perfect percentage from the charity stripe, banked both of his free throws for a 79-74 cushion in the final 23.2 seconds.
James Ison then knocked down a trey, 81-77, but Lecciones proved steady as he sank another two freebies for the victory.
Lecciones dropped 25 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Lopez and Hubilla finished with 16 and 15 markers apiece with the 21-year-old Hubilla also collecting 19 boards.
Gagate and Luis Pablo paced LSGH as the former registered a double-double of 21 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists while the latter chimed in with 14 markers, 16 boards, and three dimes.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
