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[av_heading heading=’San Beda survives Arellano, takes NCAA finals Game 1 ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Robert Bolick came up with crucial hits in the endgame as San Beda Red Lions escaped with an 88-85 win over Arellano University Chiefs in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 92 men’s basketball finals last night at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With Chiefs ahead at 85-84 following a basket by Lervin Flores, Bolick pushed Red Lions ahead, 86-85, on a fast-break layup. He later iced the win with his two free throws with 3.5 seconds left in the match.
Bolick, a transferee from De La Salle University, finished with double-double 24 points and 10 rebounds for Red Lions, which can take the NCAA crown with a repeat victory on Game 2 on Tuesday.
Benedict Adamos chipped in with 16 markers, while rookies Arnaud Noah and Davon Potts contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Red Lions, which played without injured import Donald Tankoua.
Red Lions waxed hot early in the field behind Bolick, Adamos and Jayvee Mocon for a slim 15-7 start. The margin later grew to 28-20 at the end of the period behind conversions by Mocon and Noah.
Red Lions built its largest lead at 54-43 in the second frame after a three-pointer by Jomari Presbitero and baskets by Potts, but back-to-back hits by Chiefs’ Kent Salado trimmed the deficit to 54-49 at the half.
Red Lions regained its shooting in the third frame as it tied its 11-point lead at 60-49 on back-to-back baskets by Roldan Sara, but Chiefs rallied to within 70-69 on triples by Salado and
Jiovani Jalalon.
San Beda opened the final frame with quick baskets from Amiel Soberano, Sara and Noah for a 79-73 edge, but Chiefs came right back to tie the count at 80-all on a triple by Jalalon.
Chiefs tasted the lead anew at 82-80 on a basket by Dioncee Holts, but Red Lions leaned on Bolick and Adamos for an 84-82 lead. A split from the line by Salado followed by Flores hit gave Chiefs an 85-84 lead before the four points of Bolick.
Jalalon, a top contender in the MVP race, finished with 21 points, while Salado added 19 markers for Chiefs, which is looking to extend the series to a do-or-die Game 3 next Thursday./PN
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