Archers repulse Tamaraws, gain first finals berth

Games today (Ynares Gym) 2 p.m. – San Beda vs Arellano U 4 p.m. – NU vs FEU

Cameroonian rookie Ben Mbala barreled his way to 20 points and 12 rebounds as La Salle pounced on the Mac Belo-less Far Eastern U side and came away with a 74-61 victory to clinch the first finals berth in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City yesterday.

Mbala, who will debut for the Taft-based squad next UAAP season, imposed his will and strength inside and dominated the boards as the Archers rolled to their fourth straight victory, including two in the Cebu joust, to advance to the best-of-three title series set Thursday.

La Salle, who also drew 14 points from Jeron Teng and 12 markers and 13 boards from Prince Rivero, will take on either University of San Carlos, which finished with a 3-1 (win-loss) slate from the Cebu leg last week, or San Beda (2-1) for the championship.

Earlier, San Beda rode on a strong third quarter run to repulse National University, 75-62, yesterday and stay in the title hunt.

In a duel of the champions of the country’s top two leagues, the five-peat NCAA champions beat the reigning UAAP titlists behind a strong second half charge anchored on the power-playing duo of Nigerian Ola Adeogun and Arthur dela Cruz, turning a six-point deficit at the turn into a 55-46 lead entering the fourth.

It was cruise control for the Lions from there as Adeogun and Dela Cruz asserted their might, finishing with a combined output of 38 points and 20 rebounds.

But the Lions will still need to beat the Arellano University Chiefs, whom they swept to win their fifth straight NCAA crown, at 2 p.m. today and hope to emerge with the better tiebreak than the USC side to advance to the finals.