| Red Lions 3-peat!!! |
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| Written by California Bedan | ||||||||||||
| Sep 29, 2008 at 12:18 PM | ||||||||||||
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This is a compilation of all the news stories from various Philippine news feeds. Video by inboundpass Manila Times
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Fireworks at Victory Bonfire by Plainzhey
San Beda roars to '3-peat' and NCAA greatnessabs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/29/2008 5:22 PM
Nigerian behemoth Sam Ekwe unleashed a monster performance with 21 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal to cap his three-year stint with the Red Lions with a third straight crown and Finals MVP to boot. The win also cemented the Lions' dynasty even stronger and sent them into the elite class of the San Beda team that reigned from 1934 tom 1936 while sealing a 14th crown overall. The 2008 championship team of San Beda now joins former NCAA member Ateneo, now with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, as the second winningest school in the oldest, most prestigious league in the land. Only the Letran Knights were better with 16 titles. "It boiled down to execution. We started strong, we executed well especially in our offense, that did us some wonders," said a jubilant coach Frankie Lim. "I told my guys not to be heroes but to play as a team and win this game as a team for our beloved school San Beda," he added. Lim was also impressed of his 6’9" Lagos, Nigeria center. "Ekwe is great. He’s the MVP of the Finals, MVP of the season. You got to give it to him, he’s been working hard," said Lim of his hardworking Nigerian center. "We’ve got our highs and lows but you know at least he now understands the importance of him staying in the post. He gets a lot of opportunities there. "I’m just too happy for him, he’s got a three-peat, MVP awards here and there. He is going out from San Beda with greatness," he added. Like Ekwe, PBA-bound Pong Escobal went out with a bang as he had 11 points, nine assists and seven boards. "Can’t get any sweeter than this I mean to overcome this year because of all the doubts. The ups and downs during the season it just can’t get any sweeter than this. The harder the sweeter it is," said Escobal. It also produced a lot of heroes. Last year’s Finals MVP Ogie Menor, rookie Jake Pascual and Borgie Hermida chipped in 18, 13 and 10 points, respectively, to complete a 2-1 series win over a Jose Rizal squad that gave it all but came out empty handed. After spending so much energy in Game Two, the Bombers looked spent that enabled the Lions to dominate the first half. San Beda, in fact, led by as much as 17 points, 35-18, during the period thanks to a strong start by Ekwe.
The Red Lions came out of the dugout wearing white shirts with the No. 13 printed at the back. The Lions dedicated the series to their coach who wore the No. 13 jersey as part of the last back-to-back champion team in the late 1970s before the three-peat. Incidentally, the Ateneo Eagles did that to their coach Norman Black with a black shirt and the No. 24 etched on it when they ruled the UAAP Season 71 basketball championship last week. Meanwhile, the Philippine Basketball League, which withdrew its referees Thursday, decided in the last minute to allow its referees one last time. Quarter scores: 24-12, 38-29,64-48, 89-61. With reports from Roy Medina, abs-cbnNEWS.com Bonfire and fireworks by neomario999
GMANews.TV San Beda wins third straight championshipArticle posted September 29, 2008 - 05:12 PM MANILA, Philippines – This was supposed to be the most challenging season San Beda ever faced in its title regime. But all the Red Lions needed was to get everyone involved for just one important game – the finals clincher – to wrap up another banner season. San Beda played perfect basketball in the do-or-die Game Three to beat Jose Rizal University 85-69 and win its third straight National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball championship at the Araneta Coliseum. It was a balanced effort by the Red Lions who were shaky and at times vulnerable early in the tournament and on Monday, appeared to have waited for the last game of the season for everyone to come together. And that moment arrived at the perfect time with the Red Lions’ season and their reign on the line. The result? Meet college basketball’s new dynasty. “It was a season of highs and lows for us but that’s what makes this championship even sweeter," coach Frankie Lim, who won his second NCAA title as a coach, said “But I never doubted this team. I’m with them almost everyday. I practice with them and I know them by heart. If there’s anybody who knows what this team is capable of doing, it’s me," added Lim, who also steered the Lions to their 14th league championship. Sam Ekwe, the league MVP, led five Red Lions in double digits with 20 points, 13 coming in the first half where San Beda established a lead that it protected until the final buzzer. Ekwe, in his last season in San Beda, capped his stint for the Lions with the Finals MVP. He also finished with 19 rebounds. “It can’t get any better than this," said Ekwe, who helped San Beda end a 28-year title drought the day he first entered San Beda in 2006 and led them to a title repeat in 2007. “The team went through a lot this season but when the time came for us to win, we did." Ogie Menor finished with 18 points, 13 in the second half where most of his buckets helped to cool off repeated rallies by JRU. Rookie big man Jake Pascual added 13 points, seven rebounds – five off the offensive glass – and three blocked shots. Pong Escobal, who also served his last varsity year for the Lions, chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Backcourt mate Borgie Hermida also had 11 points. The Lions were up 9-4 early as the Bombers kept within striking distance midway through the first quarter. Menor scored on a three-on-one break to put San Beda up 20-10, the first time the Lions breached the 10-point mark. Ahead by a slimmer 38-29 advantage going into the third quarter, the Lions broke out of the gates in the second half. Escobal and Menor hit a three-pointer each and Hermida made a lay-up on a drive to make it 53-35 at the 6:29 mark of the third. The Bombers would not come closer than nine points the rest of the way. James Sena finished with 24 points to pace JRU. Mark Cagoco added 16. “The championship experience spelled the difference for them," JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia. “We’ll take this loss and learn from it and hopefully we’ll improve on our weaknesses and be in contention again next year." Notes – Pregame tension was quelled after the Philippine Basketball League decided to allow its referees to officiate Game Three. The PBL announced on Sunday that it would be pulling out its game officials but after discussions with the NCAA management committee, it finally agreed to rescind on its earlier decision… San Sebastian was the last team to win three straight titles when the Stags won five consecutive times between 1993 to 1997… In the all-time seniors championships list, Letran still has the most number with 16 followed by San Beda and Ateneo… The loss extended JRU’s title drought to 36 years… – GMANews.TV
Red Lions make it look easy
By JP ABCEDE Manila Bulletin San Beda College turned yesterday’s deciding Game 3 into a virtual scrimmage, plastering Jose Rizal University, 85-69, to win its third straight NCAA championship at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum. The Bombers were never in the match after the Lions extended a 35-18 halftime lead to 59-40, with 4:12 left in the third quarter. Ogie Menor led a 14-5 tear in the third, scoring seven of his 18 points. He also had eight rebounds and shot 7-of-9 from the two-point area. "It boiled down on proper execution defensively and offensively," said San Beda coach Frankie Lim. "My guys played well." After two matches that went down the wire, Game 3 was devoid of drama and excitement as the Lions stamped their class early before 20,360 fans. "We will bring the war to them. Sila naman guluhin natin," Lim told his players in the locker room prior to the game. "Start aggressive, start strong, and control the game." It marked the second time the Lions completed a hat-trick of victories. The first came from 1934 to 1936. The title was the Lions’ 14th, just two short of Letran’s 16 championships. Finals MVP Sam Ekwe led the champs with 20 points, 19 rebounds, and three blocks in 36 minutes. "He (Ekwe) did a great job on (James) Sena. He stopped (Jayson) Nocom from hitting those outside shots," Lim said. "He is the MVP of the finals and of the season. He deserved it." Ekwe and Pong Escobal went three-for-three in their NCAA career. The Talk ’N Text draftee finished his last game with 11 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Other Lions who scored in double figures were Jake Pascual with 13 points along with seven rebounds, three blocks and three assists and Borgie Hermida with 11 points. "It looked easy but it was not very easy," Lim remarked. The Lions dominated in a number of statistical departments. They shot 45 percent in the field, and limited the Heavy Bombers to 35 percent shooting. SBC also outrebounded JRU, 53-32, 19 of those coming from the offensive end, which led to 17 second chance points. Jose Rizal only had 11 offensive boards for nine second chance points. The Lions also had its running game humming with 14 fastbreak points, compared to seven by JRU. The scores: SBC 85 — Ekwe 20, Menor 18, Pascual 13, Escobal 11, Hermida 11, Tecson 6, Taganas 4, Gamalinda 2, Marcelo 0. JRU 69 — Sena 24, Cagoco 16, Njei 8, Nocom 7, Bulangis 3, Wilson 3, Pradas 3, Kabigting 2, Hayes 2, Agas 1. Quarters: 24-12, 38-29, 64-48, 85-69.
LIONS ARE KINGS OF NCAA
Daily Tribune 09/30/2008 With King Lion Sam Ekwe leading the charge, San Beda College’s championship empire is assured of its continuity. And last night, with 22,000 screaming fans at the Araneta Coliseum, Ekwe and the Red Lions fortified their winning dynasty, dominating Jose Rizal University, 85-69, to crown themselves as kings of the 84th NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The victory elevated the Red Lions to the elite cast of the league’s most dominant squads, becoming the only team to win a three-peat twice after doing the trick during the course of the 1934-36 seasons. “We had our highs and lows this year, and it made this title sweeter for all of us,” said San Beda mentor Frankie Lim, a proud member of the Red Lions team which clinched the 1979 NCAA crown. “The feeling is great. I cannot find another word aside from ‘greatness.’ Everything has fallen to its proper place. Masarap, wala akong masabi.” Ekwe, who just passed his throne to Sudan Daniel, a flashy American who will make his debut for the Lions next year, closed his colorful collegiate career with 21 points and 19 rebounds while running away with the Finals’ Most Valuable Player award, a fitting compliment to his second MVP plum for the regular season. More than anything, his dominating inside presence kept the Red Lions intact just when the gritty Heavy Bombers were waging a rally. “Sam played great. He worked hard for this title. We had our highs and lows with him and he realized his importance to the team. He gave us a lot of opportunities. I’m just too happy for him,” Lim added, reminding that Ekwe had been the subject of controversy twice this season.” Ogie Menor, Jake Pascual, Pong Escobal and Borgie Hermida also delivered significant numbers, chipping 18, 13, 11 and 11 points, respectively, for the Red Lions who never trailed since erecting a tremendous 19-point advantage, 59-40, midway through the final canto.
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| Last Updated ( Sep 30, 2008 at 02:56 AM ) | ||||||||||||
San Beda threw all its weight and parried everything Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers had to offer and carved out an emphatic 85-69 victory Monday to crown itself three-peat champion in the 84th National Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball tournament before a record crowd at the Big Dome.
JR Sena rallied the Shaw-based dribblers back as they closed the half with an 11-3 blast that was capped by a booming triple by Jason Nocom to trim the deficit down to a single digit, 29-38.
