San Beda Barges into FilOil Flying V Finals
Pong Escobal didn’t score for the San Beda Red Lions till the 3rd quarter in yesterday’s Fil Oil Flying V Invitational Cup final four game. He however turned the 2nd half and the ensuing overtime period into the Pong Escobal Show by carrying the team on his back in order to capture the win. He single handedly broke the University of the East’s fullcourt press, by running the gauntlet, against a bevy of trap defenders to cross the ball through the halfcourt line while scoring at will with his jumpers.
During the overtime period there were no Al Jamal and Sam Ekwe to carry the scoring for the Red Lions so they had to rely on Pong Escobal and Ogie Menor. Al Jamal had fouled out with still 4 minutes remaining on the fourth.
After a back breaking 3 from Escobal to make it a 90-88 lead in the overtime period, UE suddenly lost their momentum and the game. Mark Borboran missed two free throws while Marcy Arellano missed a jumper that could have tied the game to send it to a second overtime. Had they made those shots and won, I would be spinning a different tale in this post. Like how they were able to send the game into overtime in the span of just 10 secs when they were down 84-80 in the fourth. A testament to the Pumaren System’s Defense, that created consecutive steals during the inbound of the ball by San Beda. Not to mention that the game winning shot didn’t go in for them so we had to settle for overtime.
My post now will be on “the Will to Win” of San Beda, after leading only once in the first quarter, they were finally able to wrestle the lead again in the 4th Quarter. This was through the fastbreak points of Ogie Menor who did well to score on the open court. He top scored with 21 pts for San Beda. Along with that he connected well on key jumpers and FT’s down the stretch to whittle the lead of UE down. To keep in step with the UE Red Warriors during the first 3 quarters, the Red Lions had to rely on the accurate jump shooting of Al Jamal, the timely putbacks of Sam Ekwe, the streaking Lanete and the open court creativity Ogie Menor.
San Beda really lived up to their reputation as the Defending Champions of the NCAA. A lot of doubt was cast when Koy Banal was replaced as head coach, but it looks like that Frankie Lim is an able replacement. A little something for the celebrity watchers: PLDT Big Boss, Manny Pangilinan was in the crowd cheering his team on. Wearing red no less.
The Red Lions will now slug it out with the DLSU Green Archers for the Title of the FilOil Flying V Invitational Cup. By this time they’ve had ample practice already by beating UE who shares the same system of La Salle due to the bond of brotherhood shared between the coaches of both teams.
SAN BEDA 96 - Menor 21, Escobal 19, Ekwe 17, Aljamal 15, Lanete 12, Hermida 7, Tecson 3, Taganas 2, Maggay 0.
UE 92 - Gregorio 17, Llagas 15, Borboran 14, Lee 11, Arellano 9, Espiritu 8, Martinez 7, Lingganay 6, Fampulme 6.
Tags: Filoil Flying V Invitational Cup, San Beda, University of the East