Two-time defending UAAP champion Ateneo bucked the absence of its star players finding enough strength in the fourth quarter to trounce bitter NCAA rival San Beda in the other semis match in the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
The Blue Eagles went on a shooting clinic in the payoff period to defeat undermanned San Beda, 81-69, Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City to arrange an all-UAAP title showdown with Far Eastern University for the PCCL national title.
Reserve Oping Sumalinog combined with starters Jai Reyes and Eric Salamat in a big fourth quarter three-point shooting rampage as the Blue Eagles broke the game wide open to reach the national finals for the third consecutive season.
Ateneo won despite playing sluggish two months after its UAAP title conquest over University of the East and playing minus star big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
The 6-foot-6 Al-Hussaini, who bagged the 2008 UAAP Most Valuable Player and this season's Finals MVP honors, is currently concentrating on his commitments with the Smart Gilas RP national team.
"We're still not complete but we'll just do the best we can in the championship," said Ateneo coach Norman Black.
Sumalinog, Reyes and Salamat led the Loyola-based squad with 14 points apiece while Ryan Buenafe added 13 markers, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in 19 minutes on the floor.
They combined to hit all of the team's nine three-pointers off 24 attempts and was glad to win despite committing 21 turnovers.
"We turned the ball over 21 times but good thing San Beda committed 26 turnovers," Black added.
Ateneo was ahead by just six points, 65-59, with less than six minutes left before Reyes nailed a three-pointer. Salamat followed suit with two treys while Buenafe completed the rout with a triple for a 79-64 lead with just 1:40 to go.
The best-of-three title series between the Eagles and Tamaraws will begin on Wednesday with the former seeking their second title overall while the latter going for a record third championship.
Garvo Lanete led the way for San Beda with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting while Bam Gamalinda nearly had his third straight double-double finishing with 13 points and nine boards.
Rookie Rome Dela Rosa came off the bench scoring 12 points in 24 minutes of action.
The Mendiola-based squad actually led 30-22 in the second quarter only for Ateneo to mount a comeback to trail 39-34 at the half.
But San Beda pulled within 48-46 with 3:35 left in the third on a Dela Rosa lay-up before Ateneo pulled away for good.
The Red Lions suited up with just 10 players and missed the services of American import Sudan Daniel (right foot) and Borgie Hermida (deep cut above his right eye).
San Beda and San Sebastian will play in a one-game showdown for third place, also on Wednesday, in a rematch of the NCAA finals won by the Stags.
Scores
Ateneo 81 – Sumalinog 14, Reyes 14, Salamat 14, Buenafe 13, Baclao 11, Salva 8, Long 5, Golla 2, Gonzaga 0, Chua 0, Austria 0, Tiongson 0, Monfort 0.
San Beda 69 – Lanete 15, Gamalinda 13, dela Rosa 12, Caram 8, Marcelo 7, Tecson 5, Villanueva 3, Solera 2, Lim 2, Pascual 2.
Quarter scores: 12-18; 39-34; 58-53; 81-69.
Games on Wednesday (Ynares Sports Arena)
2 p.m. — San Sebastian vs San Beda (3rd Place)
4 p.m. — FEU vs Ateneo (Finals Game 1)
No comments:
Post a Comment