Blazers, Lions dispute last NCAA finals berth

Games Sunday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

9:30 a.m. – Mapua vs AU (juniors)

12 p.m. – EAC vs Letran (juniors)

2:30 p.m. – San Beda vs CSB (seniors)

MANILA, Philippines — College of St. Benilde aims to sustain the momentum of its epic Game 2 win, while San Beda seeks to muster the same poise it showed in the opener as the two battle one final time for the last spot to the NCAA Season 101 finale at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With their backs against the wall, the Blazers lived for another day after it repulsed the Lions, 77-75, sealed by a game-winning bucket by a sweet-shooting swingman Ian Torres.

That knotted the count at one game apiece and forced a decider set at 2:30 p.m.

The winner will advance to the championship round versus Letran, which swept University of Perpetual Help, in another best-of-three affair at a still unspecified date and venue next week.

Torres hopes they could summon the same urgency and determination in Game 3.

“Bahala na si Batman ulit (It will be up to Batman again),” said Torres, referring to a local parlance that meant its now all up to chance.

CSB is trying to keep its bid of making the finals for the third time in the last four years alive.

If it does, it will earn another crack at a second title and add to that one won decades ago—1998.

“Our focus is how to win Game 3 alone,” said CSB coach Charles Tiu.

The Lions, who took Game 1, 91-72, Tuesday at the Big Dome, missed their chance at wrapping things up after series opener hero Agjanti Miller wasn’t able to play in Game 2 due to knee contusion.

There was no word if the prolific and athletic Miller would suit up for this one but San Beda, and its faithful are hoping he does.