Mapua, San Beda dispute last NCAA finals berth

THE Mapua Cardinals and the powerhouse San Beda Red Lions will battle for the last finals berth on May 11 in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Coach Boyet Fernandez reminded his Red Lions to watch out for the Cardinals’ outside proficiency in the 3 p.m. match wherein the winner will advance to the finals to take on the undefeated Letran Knights.

“We all know that Mapua is the number one team in three points and they are really the number one team whose starters make the most points,” said Fernandez after San Beda kept its season alive with a 73-67 overtime win on May 8.

The Cardinals struggled mightily from beyond the arc, going 3-of-25 that kept them from closing out the Final Four right away.

“I’m just thankful Mapua missed their threes,” said Fernandez.

With its quest for its 15th consecutive Finals appearance on the line, San Beda will leave everything on the floor to stave off elimination.

“We haven’t won anything, we just tied it. It gave us another chance to live and really thank my players for stepping up today,” said Fernandez.

The Lions were seconds away from missing the Finals for the first time since 2005, but Ralph Penuela saved the day with putback late in regulation to send the game into extra period. San Beda then took control in overtime behind Penuela.

The Cardinals, who earlier beat the Lions that gave them the No. 2 ranking in the Final Four, hope to learn the mistakes from their previous match to advance to the league’s biggest stage.

Mapua last made it to the Finals in 1991 where it won its second consecutive championship.