Red Lions outslug Stags to take 1-0 lead in NCAA Finals

October 25, 2011

San Beda fought off San Sebastian’s physical play as the Red Lions defeated the Stags, 75-63, Monday in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Mar Villahermosa hit 10 of his game-high 15 points in the fourth quarter in lieu of Garvo Lanete as the Red Lions pulled away by outscoring the Stags, 23-11, in the final frame.

The Red Lions can wrap up the finals series on Wednesday at The Big Dome as they gun for their fifth title in six years.

Villahermosa hit the dagger with a shade under two minutes left in the game with a left corner three-pointer for an 11-point lead, 70-59. He stepped up at the right time with Lanete not playing a hundred percent due to sickness.

San Sebastian’s chances of winning practically ended after Villahermosa’s triple and when coach Topex Robinson was hit with a disqualifying foul after complaining to the referees.

The Red Lions looked more composed after the Stags showed their physical side in the second half.

“Again, just like last year, they were throwing cheap shots at us, but I told my guys that we have to look at the bigger picture. We are here to win the championship, not to hurt people,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

Dave Marcelo had 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks while Jake Pascual, who had an unenviable task of guarding Most Valuable Player Calvin Abueva, had 14 points and three blocks.

Abueva, who received his MVP trophy before the game, had 12 points and 16 rebounds but only had two points in the final period thanks to the tough defense of San Beda’s frontline.

“Jake played good defense on him. I told them that the trio will take charge and they just have to defend well, execute our game plan and make it work,” said Lim.

Abueva’s only field goal in the fourth quarter kept the Stags in the game, 57-55, but scored only four field goals after that with two coming in garbage time.

Rookie Baser Amer scored the final three points of a 10-2 San Beda run including a tough lay-in that gave the Red Lions a 66-57 lead. He also forced Abueva to commit an unsportsmanlike foul that led to a converted free throw with 2:59 left in the game.

Robinson was ejected following a series of complaints to the referees that started in the third period.

“I want to apologize for what I’ve done but the only way that I can come back is to bounce back is to win the championship,” said Robinson to sportswriters after the game.

Robinson would later tweet saying: “I want to apologize to the whole SAN SEBASTIAN COMMUNITY!!! BUT I JUST CAN'T STAND MY BOYS BEING SLAUGHTERED BY THE (expletive) REFS!!” – OMG/KBK, GMA News

The scores:
San Beda 75—Villahermosa 15, Marcelo 14, J. Pascual 14, Dela Rosa 11, Amer 9, Lanete 6, A. Semerad 4, Caram 2, D. Semerad 0, K. Pascual 0.

San Sebastian 63—Pascual 14, Abueva 12, Antipuesto 11, Sangalang 10, Dela Cruz 7, Del Rio 5, Miranda 2, Vitug 2, Maiquez 0, Balucanag 0.

Quarters: 20-20, 35-38, 52-52, 75-63.