The Webmasters, the reigning Cebu champions who dropped their first two games against the Ateneo Eagles, 53-100, and the San Beda Lions, 77-83, torched the Stags with a PCCL record 16 triples that sealed the win.
Edward Pao accounted for seven of those to finish with 25 points while Robinson Mohammad had six and wound up with 20 points to share the spotlight with the 6-10 Junmar Fajardo, who had 20 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
"I told my players that my secret is to make at least 300 triples or more a day," said former PBA gunner Roel Gomez, who could be coaching an ABL team this coming season or get tapped as an assistant coach by his former team Alaska or ex-mentor and now B-Meg's Tim Cone.
"I also trained them to establish their footing first, visualize their target and just fire without unnecessary moves," he added.
Reigning NCAA MVP Calvin Abueva paced the Stags with 17 points he spiked with nine rebounds and four assists but didn't get enough production particularly from Ian Sangalang, who managed only nine points and five boards.
The loss was the first for the Stags, who missed Ronald Pascual due to a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). But they still ended up with the top seeding in the finals and the twice-to-beat advantage that came with it after toppling the Lions, 87-72, Monday and stunning the Eagles, 70-69, Tuesday.
Ateneo and San Beda will collide at 4 p.m. tomorrow with the winner playing San Sebastian in the finals on Monday.
The Webmasters and the Stags engaged in a three-point shootout as the two combined for 14 triples with the former making eight and the latter draining six as the Visayan champions led the way, 47-45, at the break.
Edward Pao erupted for 13 points early, including three from beyond the arc, while Fajardo silently drilled in nine points in the first 20 minutes of play.
Earlier, Far Eastern U-Ferns defeated La Salle-Greenhills, 85-77, in a high school charity game benefitting the cleanup of Pasig River.
The scores:
UC 92 – Pao 25, Mohammad 20, Fajardo 20, Heruela 12, Bercede 12, Auditor 3, Ocariza 0, Batino 0, Ampoon 0
San Sebastian 71 – Abueva 17, Ferrer 9, Sangalang 9, Vitug 9, Grilli 8, del Rio 6, Miranda 4, dela Cruz 4, Balacunag 3, Maiquez 2
Quarterscores: 22-17; 47-45; 69-57 92-71
by By Joey Villar philstar.com - source
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