Red Lions book semis berth in PCCL

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda secured a ticket to the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Final Four after taking a 77-68 win over Santo Tomas in the UAAP-NCAA Challenge yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Runnersup in the last NCAA season, the Red Lions finished the four-team tournament with 2-1 card to join UAAP champion Ateneo in the semis of the nationwide tournament among the best collegiate squads.

UAAP semifinalist University of the Philippines is in the Final Four after ruling the Luzon qualifiers held in Naga City the other day, leaving the last semis slot for the winner of the coming Visayas-Mindanao championships.

James Canlas spearheaded the Red Lions’ charge with 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while Peter Alfaro (13) and Ralph Peneula (11) threw in solid help.

Kemark Carino was also instrumental down low with 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks as the Boyet Fernandez-mentored squad looks on course for redemption in PCCL after being denied of a four-peat championship in the NCAA by Letran last year.

Coming off a convincing 76-53 victory over the Knights last week, the Red Lions were simply unstoppable and led by as many as 17 points before holding off a feisty Tigers’ late-game rally.

As UAAP runner-up Santo Tomas trimmed the deficit to 63-69 in the last three minutes, San Beda unleashed a strong finishing kick highlighted by Calvin Oftana’s bucket in the last minute for a comfortable 74-63 cushion en route to the win.

Skipper CJ Cansino fired 21 markers for the Tigers (1-2).