Anjo Caram drives against Kevin Racal in Game 3 of the 88th NCAA seniors basketball championship game on Friday. (FCF/Arvyn Peter Radovan)

Baser Amer claims Finals MVP

Strong start, roaring finish.

San Beda turned out an epic performance for the ages, as they demolished the walled-city heroes Letran in Game 3 of their NCAA Season 88 finals series to claim their 17th overall title in the seniors division.

Anchored by an early game pullaway, the Red Lions beheaded the Knights by a wire-to-wire 67-39 rout on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Graduating pointman Anjo Caram turned up one of his best individual performances of the season, putting up 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting with 5 rebounds. Finals MVP Baser Amer added 14 points, while exiting big man Jake Pascual put up 10 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals in his farewell performance.

The Knights never led nor kept the game within single digits by the remainder of the ballgame since San Beda roared into the dugout with a 34-17 lead during the intermission.

“The players were the ones who made things happen on the court. I was only there to guide them,” said the cool and collected first-time head coach Ronnie Magsanoc on their finals win.

Mark Cruz capped off an impressive sophomore season with 12 points on 6-for-13 shooting, while Kevin Alas added 11 points on a horrific 5-for-21 shooting from the field in a losing effort.

The 28-point win by the Red Lions was the biggest margin of victory in a series-clinching match during the Final Four era (since 1998), and the 39 points scored by the Knights was the lowest total output by any team in that same span.

BOX SCORES
SAN BEDA (67): Caram 17, Amer 14, J. Pascual 10, Adeogun 6, Dela Rosa 5, Koga 4, K. Pascual 4, Mendoza 2, Abarcar 2, Ludovice 2, Dela Cruz 1, Bonsubre 0, Lim 0, Villaruz 0, Moralde 0
LETRAN (39): Cruz 12, K. Alas 11, Cortes 6, Racal 3, Almazan 3, J. Alas 2, Almario 2, Belorio 0, Lituania 0, Gabawan 0, Luib 0, Cudal 0
Quarters: 18-10, 34-17, 45-25, 67-39