Luis Pablo and Seven Gagate connived as College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills dethroned San Beda University in a tight 89-85 encounter in a do-or-die semifinals clash in the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball tournament on Thursday.
LSGH, which had to overcome a twice-to-beat advantage for the defending champions, will now meet Colegio de San Juan de Letran in a best-of-three finals affair starting on Monday.
After a taking a 46-41 halftime lead, the Greenies quickly stepped on the gas pedal as their lead ballooned to 10 after a Santi Romero triple, 53-43, but Chris Hubilla refused to slow down as he rallied San Beda.
The 20-year-old do-it-all cager dropped 14 of his overall output in the third period as the Red Cubs trimmed their deficit to just one before heading to the fourth, 63-62.
The payoff period saw a shooting showdown between Hubilla and Pablo. The two budding high school stars exchanged baskets before a Hubilla bucket sent San Beda to a slim 75-74 cushion late in the frame.
It became a nip-and-tuck affair from that point on with both teams trading leads before big man Nicko Lorenzo buried a huge triple off a Gab Ludovice kick out pass as San Beda took an 82-80 lead with 1:05 left.
Pablo tied it all up at 82-all before he cleaned up his own free throw miss, giving LSGH the lead back at 84-82 before a CJ Mesias triple sent them to an 87-84 upper hand with 26.9 ticks left.
James Ison committed a turnover that almost proved costly with 8.7 seconds left, but redeemed himself by recovering the ball on defense and knocking down the two free throws to seal the victory for LSGH.
Pablo showed the way with a monster double-double of 25 points, 19 rebounds, and two blocks while Seven Gagate provided a big lift with 20 markers, nine boards, three assists, four blocks, and one steal.
The loss spoiled Hubilla's 37-point outburst that came along with 14 rebounds and two steals as San Beda failed to defend the crown they won in Season 95.
The scores:
Benilde-La Salle Green Hills 89 - Pablo 25, Gagate 20, Ison 12, Romero 12, Alian 11, Mesias 5, Gomez 3, Rivero 1, Zaragoza 0.
San Beda 85 - Hubilla 37, Lopez 13, Lecciones 11, Lorenzo 10, Ludovice 8, Dungo 2, Mundas 2, Ronquillo 2, Wagan 0, Reyes 0, Lacsamana 0.
Quarters: 22-19, 46-41, 63-62, 89-85.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
