Familiar faces will meet once again as the San Beda-Machateam Red Lions and Louie Sangalang's Kuala Lumpur Aseel will dispute the Sportsclick AsiaBasket International Championship title.
The Red Lions will face Sangalang, who is coming off a three-peat run with San Beda's NCAA rival Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and his Malaysian squad on April 18 at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
San Beda pulled off an 83-72 stunner against Harimau Malaysia on Sunday night with Yukien Andrada showing the way with 23 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, and one steal to steer San Beda to the championship round.
Jacob Cortez and new recruit Jomel Puno also stepped up in the win, finishing with 13 and 10 markers, respectively.
Sangalang and the Aseel, meanwhile, are coming off a gutsy 90-87 victory against another Philippine representative from the NCAA in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the other semifinals bracket.
Jalen Robinson led Kuala Lumpur with 29 points, 21 rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and two steals while Sangalang, who suits up as an Asian import, added 20 markers, 10 boards, two dimes, and one rejection.
Harimau Malaysia and Benilde will first go at it for the Battle for Third at 5 p.m. before the Aseel and the Red Lions go for the throne at 7:30 p.m.
The scores:
First Game
San Beda-Machateam 83 – Andrada 23, Cortez 13, Puno 10, Cuntapay 9, Tagle 9, Alfaro 7, Payosing 5, Jopia 4, Cometa 3, Visser 0, Gallego 0, Royo 0
Harimau Malaysia 72 – Ting 24, Mahadevan 10, Kuek 9, Ooi 8, Lee 5, Heng 5, Y. Wong 3, J. Wong 3, Dee 2, Liew 2, Lim 1, Ong 0
Quarterscores: 17-23, 41-39, 65-60, 83-72.
Second Game
Kuala Lumpur 90 – Robinson 29, Sangalang 20, Wee 15, W. Tan 9, Gan 8, Soong 7, Yap 2, G. Tan 0, Kwan 0
Benilde 87 – Corteza 24, Oczon 18, Carlos 16, Turco 15, Nayve 4, Marcos 2, Marasigan 2, Cajucom 2, Sangco 2, Liwag 2, Jarque 0, Mara 0
Quarterscores: 24-22, 43-39, 72-63, 90-87.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News
