Red Lions catch last bus to Final Four

San Beda went to skipper Arjun Cordero as the match stood in the balance to turn back an undermanned Mapua side, 59-52, yesterday and barge into the Final Four in the 80th NCAA basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Yousif Aljamal and Jerome Paterno led all scorers with 16 points each but it was Cordero who delivered the crucial baskets by exploding with nine of his 14 markers in the fourth quarter as the Red Lions clinched their first ever Final Four stint since the format was introduced in 1997.

"He’s the heart and soul of this team and he proved it in the game," said San Beda coach Nash Racela, younger brother of San Miguel hotshot Olsen.

San Beda faces host Perpetual Help in the Final Four tomorrow at the same venue needing two victories to barge into the best-of-three finals for the first time since 1996 when the Mendiola-based squad lost to then powerhouse San Sebastian.

The other semifinal duel pits No.2 Philippine Christian U against No. 3 defending champion Letran with the latter also needing a pair of triumphs to also advance to the championship.

The Cardinals did not go out without a fight as the Intramuros-based team fought gallantly up to the end despite the absence of Erwin Sta. Maria and Andrew Salud.

Sta. Maria served out a one-game suspension for hitting Perpetual Help’s Vladimir Joe while Salud dislocated his left knee early in the third period when he landed badly after blocking a fastbreak attempt by Cordero. He was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital and will be operated on by sports medicine expert Dr. Raul Canlas at St. Luke’s anytime soon.

Despite the loss, Mapua mentor Horacio Lim lauded his boys for their gallant stand.

"I’m proud of my boys. We did everything we can despite the absence of our key players. I couldn’t ask for more," said Lim.

Mapua, however, will not go home empty-handed as its Cheering Cardinals topped the 1st NCAA-Nestle Non-Stop Cheerdance Competition before a huge crowd at the Big Dome.

Performing a colorful number with a theme based on the 80s, Mapua garnered 92.67 points to take home the top purse worth P50,000, the championship trophy and the bragging rights as the best cheerdance group in the league.

The Letran Cheering squad finished second place with 83.33 points while the San Sebastian Pep Squad took third place with 82.17 points to bag P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.