PCCL: San Beda Red Lions claim third place at the expense of SWU Cobras

NCAA champions San Beda College Red Lions defeated the South Western University Cobras, 64-56, and captured third place in the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Championship League, Tuesday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

It was San Beda's second-straight third place finish, as last season, they defeated another Southern Islands titlist, the University of Cebu Webmasters. Also, it's the third time overall, to claim the bronze, having achieved the same placing back in 2009.

Art Dela Cruz came off the bench to lead his team with 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

The Red Lions took an initial 6-2 lead off back-to-back baskets from Kyle Pascual, but the Cobras leaned on Justin Aboude, one of the two SWU Cameroonian centers, for six straight points to take an 8-6 lead.

San Beda, which struggled in the half court set, bought their next points courtesy of a Baser Amer fas tbreak with under three minutes to play. They closed the quarter with six unanswered to reclaim the lead, 12-8.

SWU settled down defensively in the second quarter and converted turnovers into scoring opportunities. Ben Mbala scored six of the Cobras’ first eight to give them their first lead of the game, 16-15 at 7:25.

But just when another quarter collapse loomed for San Beda, point guard Anjo Caram responded with eight points, including two triples, in an 11-6 mid-quarter run to fend off the comebacking Cobras. That wSan Beda held the lead at halftime, 28-26.

Mbala scored 10 points in the second quarter.

After the break, the Cobras got contributions from their guards. Joseph Nalos and Monbert Arong took advantage of an anemic San Beda line-up to combine for nine markers in a 15-7 run to take a 41-35 lead.

Amer and Art dela Cruz countered for San Beda, as the latter player tallied six points in a 10-0 run for the three-peat NCAA champs. The Cobras broke out of their slump as Aboude scored five straight with under two minutes left in the third. SWU then tied the score after three quarters on an improbable halfcourt heave by Benito Ortuyo, capping a 9-4 swing for a 49-all tally.

The Red Lions put their foot down in the fourth quarter, as Amer and Kyle Pascual took over in the fourth quarter and racked up a quick 8-2 run. The Cobras could not recover, as they were frustrated on nearly every trip by a swarming San Beda defense.

SWU tallied only three field goals in the fourth quarter, with only one coming in the last 6:12, a non-bearing three-pointer by Bon Guillena in the last 22 seconds in the game.

San Beda were the more aggressive team, shooting 10-for-15 from the free throw line. On the other hand, the Cobras had just a 5-for-8 charity mark for the entire game. - AMD, GMA News

Quarter scores: 12-8, 28-26, 49-49, 64-56