SAN BEDA IN 15TH F4 STINT

SAN BEDA University reasserted its mastery of College of Saint Benilde, 63-57, to secure its 15th consecutive Final Four appearance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors’ basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre on Sunday.

The Red Lions quelled the Blazers last-ditch rally in the payoff period to claim the No. 3 semifinals ranking.

Up next for San Beda is a Final Four date with twice-to-beat Mapua on Sunday. The Cardinals booked the outright Final Four slot as the No. 2 team by virtue of their 68-54 elimination round conquest of the Red Lions.

James Kwekuteye scored 17 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, to go with four rebounds to lead San Beda. The Filipino-canadian guard, however, left in the final 1:31 with a left ankle injury after he got fouled by AJ Benson.

Yukien Andrada also shone for the Red Lions with 11 points, including three triples, and four rebounds. San Beda was ahead, 57-43, when Saint Benilde made a 12-3 run capped by a Will Gozum putback to cut the deficit to 55-60 with 17.8 seconds.

The Blazers, however, ran out of time, as the Red Lions sealed the victory after Ralph Penuela went 3-of-4 from the stripe in the final 16.3 seconds.

Saint Benilde, which last made the Final Four in 2002, will face either University of Perpetual Help System Dalta or Arellano University for the remaining berth on Wednesday. The survivor will face defending champion Letran, which has the twice-to-beat bonus for finishing No. 1 in the short eliminations.

Robi Nayve went 1-of-8 from the field to finish with 10 points for the Blazers while Joshua Marcos added nine points and eight rebounds. Will Gozum could only muster 4-of-19 shooting for an eight-point outing with 11 rebounds.