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Games Friday (Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. - San Beda vs San Sebastian (Jrs)

4 p.m. - San Beda vs San Sebastian (Srs)

MANILA, Oct. 14 (PNA) -- San Beda fought off San Sebastian’s challenge for nearly three quarters late Wednesday night before unleashing a telling fourth quarter run to hammer out a 93-73 victory to move on the crest of setting another date with history in the 86th NCAA Basketball tournament before a mammoth crowd at the Big Dome.

Playing before a season-best 11,018 paying patrons, Pro-bound Borgie Hermida came through a game to remember as he piled up 18 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a shot block as he powered the Lions, who went into the series with a 1-0 edge due to a historic 16-game sweep of the elims, to a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series.

“I’m happy for my boys, they played an excellent game and followed our game plan,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

The win also produced a lot of heroes.

Garvo Lanete scattered 17 points including some when it mattered most while American behemoth Sudan Daniel, who earlier received his MVP trophy after edging San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva in one of the closest races in recent years, bullied his way to 15 points including seven from the foul line and 10 boards.

Rome dela Rosa and Fil-Aussie rookie Anthony Semerad likewise made a big impact and poured in 13 and 12 points, respectively, to help in the cause.

“Borgie was tough, Su played well I think Anthony Semerad hit good shots for us, for a rookie and someone who is playing his first championship game,” said Lim.

San Beda will go for the jugular Friday hoping to take home its 15th title overall that would also install it as the first team to sweep its way to the championship in the modern era.

The last team to sweep its way to the finals was when San Sebastian, then led by Rommel Adducul and Banjo Calpito, nailed its fourth of its unprecedented five-peat in 1996.

“We’d love to finish it off on Friday,” said Lim.

Abueva had a strong start but couldn’t match it up with an equally strong finish as he wound up with 22 points, 12 boards and three shot blocks while John Raymundo and Ronald Pascual chipped in 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Stags, who are hoping for a back-to-back title, however, didn’t have enough steam in the end to pull off a sleeper.

“We found out in this game that we could match up with them but we just couldn’t finish strong and my second unit couldn’t produce,” said San Sebastian mentor Ato Agustin.

Truly, the Stags found a way to keep abreast with the Lions for nearly three quarters and even knotted the count at 58-all with less than four minutes to go in the third canto on a basket by Ronald Pascual.

But Hermida, who will shoot up for Barako Bull in the PBA after this finals, scored five unanswered points to spark a 12-2 blast to close the third period with a 72-60 edge.

It was cruise control for San Beda from there with Hermida teaming up with Dela Rosa, Semerad and Lanete in dealing the final blows.

The scores:

San Beda 93 - Hermida 18, Lanete 17, Daniel 15, Dela Rosa 13, A. Semerad 12, J. Pascual 6, Caram 4, Marcelo 4, K. Pascual 4, Mendoza 0, D. Semerad 0.

San Sebastian 73 - Abueva 22, Raymundo 15, Pascual 12, Bulawan 9, Semira 6, Sangalang 4, Najorda 3, Del Rio 2, Gatchalina 0, Gorospe 0.

Quarterscores: 26-23; 44-40; 72-60; 93-73. (PNA)

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