By Dugout Philippines
Ralph Salcedo only scored two points in the Arellano Chiefs' game against the San Beda Red Lions, but that proved to be the difference.
Salcedo scored the game-winning layup as the Chiefs shocked the Red Lions, 78-76, in their highly-anticipated NCAA match at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
Arellano raced to a 14-9 lead late in the first quarter.
But San Beda closed the period on an 8-2 run to take a 17-16 advantage entering the second.
The Chiefs retook the lead, 23-17, after a 7-0 run to start the next quarter.
But the Red Lions answered with their own 7-0 blast to reclaim the edge, 24-23.
Another 7-0 Arellano run put the team back on top, 30-24, a lead it would hold on by halftime.
San Beda, however, outscored Arellano, 26-16, in the third quarter to take a 58-55 lead.
Dioncee Holts opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to tie the game, 58-all.
Since then, the became tightly-contested as both teams exchanged crucial baskets and the lead changed hands.
Keith Agovida then made a split from the free throw line to tie the game at 69-all with 2:36 left.
But Agovida fouled Ola Adeogun, and Adeogun also made one of two to give the Red Lions a 70-69 lead with 2:16 to go.
Agovida made up for the foul as he scored a layup to put the Chiefs back on top, 71-70, with 1:58 remaining.
Arth Dela Cruz converted two free throws for a 72-71 San Beda lead with 1:41 left.
Both teams failed to find the basket in the next minute.
Agovida, however, got a good crack at the rim and converted another go-ahead layup with 36.3 seconds left to put Arellano up, 73-72.
Dela Cruz answered with a quick teardrop to put the Lions ahead again, 74-73, with 31.7 seconds to go.
Agovida tied the game, 74-all, after splitting his charities off an Adeogun foul with 26.2 seconds remaining.
But Baser Amer got fouled in the next play and sank two gift shots to put San Beda up once more, 76-74, with 21.1 seconds remaining.
John Pinto, however, scored a step-back long two to tie the game anew at 76 apiece with 9.2 seconds remaining.
Radge Tongco had a chance to give the Red Lions the win in the final possession.
But Tongco lost the ball to Salcedo, who found Jio Jalalon, who gave it back to Salcedo for the buzzer-beating layup that sealed the Chiefs' first NCAA Final Four stint, ending five seasons of heartbreaks.
Since entering the league in 2009, Arellano has been in playoff contention, but the team lost steam in the end.
The win also gave the Chiefs the other twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.
The Red Lions booked the first Final Four bonus earlier in the week.
The loss, however, dropped them to second place at 13-5 as the Chiefs overtook them at the top of the team standings at 13-4 with one game remaining in the Chiefs' schedule.
Holts led Arellano with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Agovida added 17 markers.
Adeogun had a near 20-20 game as he finished with 23 points and 19 rebounds for San Beda, who ended its elimination campaign with three straight losses.
Box Scores:
Arellano 78–Holts 19, Agovida 17, Ciriacruz 12, Pinto 10, Jalalon 8, Gumaru 4, Salcedo 2, Hernandez 2, Bangga 2, Palma 2, Nicholls 0, Caperal 0, Enriquez 0
San Beda 76–Adeogun 23, Amer 18, Dela Cruz 15, Sara 7, Tongco 4, A. Semerad 3, Mendoza 2, Pascual 2, Sorela 2, Koga 0, Mocon 0
Quarterscores: 16-17, 39-32, 55-58, 78-76
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