NCAA: San Beda pounds Lyceum to book finals clash against Mapua

Kennedy Caacbay, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- (UPDATED) The NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball finals is finally set.San Beda University has booked a championship clash against Mapua University after pushing back second-seed Lyceum of the Philippines University, 82-72, in the NCAA Final Four on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.Jomel Puno and James Payosing&#x27;s double-double performances towed San Beda towards the victory. Both had 10 boards and 18 and 15 points, respectively.Lyceum&#x27;s Enoch Valdez led all scorers with 28 markers and grabbed seven rebounds – but it was not enough as they absorbed a disappointing loss.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/28/23/cortez-catches-fire-as-san-beda-forces-decider-against-lyceum">NCAA: Cortez catches fire as San Beda forces decider against Lyceum</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/28/23/escamis-mapua-eliminate-benilde-return-to-ncaa-finals">Escamis, Hernandez take over as Mapua ousts Benilde, returns to NCAA Finals</a></li></ul>San Beda had to overcome Lyceum, which had a semis bonus, in two games.Jacob Cortez caught fire in their previous encounter – with a career-high of 28 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals – and forced a decider off an 89-68 win.From a 51-all deadlock in the third quarter, San Beda unleashed four straight triples to pull away in the match, sparked first by Damie Cuntapay with 4:16 left.The Pirates fought back with a 5-0 run in hopes to keep the lead in single digits, but Gonzales knocked a trey to embrace a double-digit cushion entering the payoff period.The Red Lions repelled all their rivals&#x27; efforts in the fourth quarter as they sustained their lead up until the buzzer.Cortez and Jomel Puno also continued the three-point onslaught, which helped retain the lead for the Lions.San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta praised Lyceum which had flourished throughout the season, ending as the second-seed (13-5).&quot;I want to commend LPU. They really played (well), grabe &#x27;yung season nila. They really made it hard for us this playoffs,&quot; Escueta said in the postgame interview.&quot;Good job to coach Gilbert (Malabanan) and the players. Grabe effort and energy nila, ibang klase,&quot; he added.Game 1 of the NCAA Finals will be on Wednesday, December 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.<div>The scores:</div>San Beda 82- Payosing 18, Puno 15, Gonzales 11, Andrada 10, Cuntapay 9, Cortez 7, Jopia 6, Tagle 3, Visser 3, Alfaro 0LPU 72- Valdez 28, Bravo 16, Guadana 8, Barba 7, Cunanan 6, Villegas 4, Omandac 3, Montano 0, Umali 0, Penafiel 0Quarterscores: 26-17; 41-38; 66-56; 82-72

San Beda booked a championship clash against Mapua after pushing back second-seed Lyceum, 82-72, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball Final Four.

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NCAA: San Beda pounds Lyceum to book finals clash against Mapua

NCAA: San Beda pounds Lyceum to book finals clash against Mapua

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 01, 2023 05:40 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 01, 2023 06:16 PM PHT

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