San Beda successfully defends title, sweeps Lyceum

San Beda started the game with five straight points. (Photo: San Beda Red Lions/Facebook)

MANILA — As an old saying goes, “It’s not about how you start it, but on how you end it.”

San Beda defied the odds and turned back Lyceum, 92-82, in Game 2 of the NCAA men’s basketball finals in front of 14,693 people at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Thursday night.

Behind a late breakaway, the Red Lions completed a 2-0 finals sweep of the Pirates, who swept the elimination round, and won the title for the second straight time, giving Boyet Fernandez a championship in his comeback year as their head coach.

San Beda started the game with five straight points.

But Lyceum answered with its own 12-0 run to take the lead and took control for the rest of the first half.

Just like Game 1, however, the Lions began clicking in the third quarter and eventually grabbed a 65-63 lead late in the period before an MJ Ayaay triple at the buzzer gave the Pirates a 66-65 edge.

The game remained tight for the early goings of the fourth before a barrage of threes later in the quarter put the game away for San Beda.

Robert Bolick led San Beda, which won its 21st title overall, with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, five rebounds, and six assists. He had half of his scoring output in the final frame.

Donald Tankoua added 17 markers, getting the bulk of it from the free throw line, 17 boards, and one steal.

CJ Perez fired 22 points, four rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block for Lyceum, but he went scoreless in the fourth period.

Box Scores:

San Beda 92–Bolick 18, Tankoua 17, Potts 15, Mocon 14, Soberano 11, Abuda 5, Bahio 5, Presbitero 3, Doliguez 2, Noah 2, Tongco 0, Adamos 0

Lyceum 82–Perez 22, Nzeusseu 15, JC Marcelino 12, Ayaay 7, Caduyac 6, Santos 6, Tansingco 5, JV Marcelino 4, Pretta 2, Serrano 2, Ibanez 1, Baltazar 0

Quarterscores: 17-22, 41-47, 65-66, 92-82