De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde continued its mastery of San Beda University, cruising to a lopsided 79-63 victory to clinch a finals spot in the NCAA Season 100 on Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Blazers, who swept the Red Lions in the elimination round, thus arranged a championship date against top-seeded Mapua University as both schools will meet in the NCAA finals for the first time ever.
It will also mark the first time since Season 85 that the championship trophy won't be going to either San Beda or Colegio de San Juan de Letran ,and the first time since Season 80 that both the Red Lions and the Knights aren't in the finals.
"I told them I don't want to have a Game 2, I don't want to play in Cuneta anymore, I don't want to go up against San Beda again," Benilde head coach Charles Tiu said.
"It's enough to see, for me as a coach, get my players jeered at. I tip my hat off to them for keeping their composure. It's not easy to play like that."
It was all Benilde right from the start of the buzzer with the troika of Allen Liwag, Jhomel Ancheta, and Tony Ynot punishing the misfiring Red Lions, who were unable to stop the hot offense of the Blazers.
The Taft crew turned a 53-27 halftime lead to as much as 30 in the third after an Anton Eusebio triple to send the Blazers to a 70-40 lead.
The defending champions tried to mount a rally behind rookie JC Bonzalida and transferee Penny Estacio, who both fueled a 12-0 rampage in the dying moments but those were not enough to pump life back to the Red Lions.
Liwag top-scored anew for Benilde with 20 points laced with eight rebounds and one block while Ynot dropped 17 markers, three boards, four assists, one steal, and one block against his former team.
Graduating guard AJ Royo emerged as the top scorer for San Beda with 14 points, four rebounds, and three steals while Estacio chipped in 10 markers in the loss.
Scores:
Benilde 79 – Liwag 20, Ynot 17, Ancheta 11, Sanchez 9, Cometa 5, Turco 4, Sangco 3, Oli 3, Eusebio 3, Torres 2, Ondoa 2, Cajucom 0, Morales 0, Serrano 0, Jarque 0.
San Beda 63 – Royo 14, Estacio 10, Andrada 7, Sajonia 6, RC Calimag 6, Bonzalida 5, Lina 4, Payosing 4, Tagle 3, Gonzales 2, Songcuya 2, Celzo 0, Tagala 0, Jalbuena 0, Richi Calimag 0.
Quarters: 25-14, 53-27, 70-42, 79-63.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
