Defending champion San Beda and San Sebastian trounced their respective rivals in the Final Four round of the high school division on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan City to arrange a title showdown in the 86th NCAA juniors’ basketball tournament.
San Sebastian's Gino Jumao-as (center) tries to score against three Perpetual Help players during their Final Four game in the 86th NCAA juniors tournament on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan City. GMANews.TV
The Red Cubs blasted the Letran Squires, the same team they defeated in last year's finals, 92-80, while the Staglets defeated semifinal debutant Perpetual Help Altas, 87-76, in the other pairing. The Cubs and Staglets will start their best-of-three title series on October 13 at the Araneta Coliseum, coinciding with the start of the men’s finals between San Beda and the winner of the stepladder phase. San Beda and San Sebastian, the NCAA champions in the last eight seasons, split their two elimination round matches. The Red Cubs drew first blood with an 84-80 win in the first round before the Staglets answered back at the close of the eliminations with a slim 76-75 victory. It will be the first time since 2005 that the squads will meet in a finals showdown. San Sebastian won that series with Eric Salamat, now a member of the Ateneo Blue Eagles that won a third straight UAAP title last week. Do-it-all guard Baser Amer led the Red Cubs’ attack with 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, Adam Batayo added 19 markers while center Al Gotladera tallied 17 points and 13 boards. The Red Cubs overcame a slow start before mounting a third-quarter scoring blitz to grab the lead for good. In the other game, Gino Jumao-as scored 15 of his 28 points in the second half to push the Staglets back to the finals for the fifth time in the last six seasons. He also had 10 rebounds and four assists Vitorio Vergara made 14 points while Jose Escalambre chipped in 10 markers for San Sebastian. Letran's Mark Cruz, the younger brother of current pro cager Marvin Cruz, and RP Under-18 team member Joshua Alolino of Perpetual Help led their squad in a losing cause. Cruz scored 23 points for the Squires while Alolino tallied 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes for the Altalettes.
– JVP/KY, GMANews.TV 
First Game San Sebastian 87 – Jumao-as 38, Vergara 14, Escalambre 10, Pascual 9, Pante 7, Vitug 5, Magno 2, Macasaet 2, Balid 0, Sapalo 0, Giann 0, Soriano 0, Santos 0. Perpetual 76 – Alolino 28, Inigo 15, Sadiwa 13, Negranza 9, Bitoy 6, Garcia 4, Brito 2, Pascual 0, Palisoc 0, Diaz 0. Quarter scores: 12-18, 34-33, 61-55, 87-76. Second Game San Beda 92 – Amer 22, Abatayo 19, Gotladera 17, Chavez 13, Nazareno Do. 9, Nazareno Da. 8, Javier 4, Abarcar 0, Miranda 0, Manalo 0, Bonsubre 0, Colmenar 0, Malapitan 0, Munsayac 0, Babilonia 0. Letran 80 – Cruz 23, Nambatac 21, Cudal 10, Serafica 8, Luib 7, Villanueva 7, Capinding 2, Mendoza 2, Salas 0, Catipay 0, Alas 0. Quarter scores: 15-19, 48-38, 71-59, 92-80.
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