De La Salle-College of St. Benilde star Allen Liwag. Photo from NCAA Philippines.MANILA (UPDATED) — De La Salle-College of St. Benilde dominated the defending champions San Beda University to enter the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball Finals.

The Blazers fired on all cylinders to eliminate the Red Lions en route to a wire-to-wire 79-63 win on Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, with centennial season MVP frontrunner Allen Liwag leading CSB to victory. 

The 6-foot-5 bruiser paced the Charles Tiu-mentored team with a 20-point, eight-rebound game with one rejection, and this helped the Taft-based cagers to return to the Finals stage for the second time in three seasons.

"Obviously, our goal is to win the championship, but it's still an achievement for us to reach the Finals," said Tiu after the game that sent San Beda to its fourth straight loss after it previously held a promising 10-4 record in the second round of eliminations. 

"It's a good feeling, to dethrone and to eliminate San Beda which is always the best team in the NCAA. Finding a way to win [over them] was a huge thing for us," he added.

Already leading by 26, 53-27, at half time, the Blazers turned the heat up further in the second half and led by as many as 30, 70-40, after an Anton Eusebio trey with 1:17 left in the third period.

"I told them that I don't want to have another game in Cuneta anymore and go up against San Beda once again," said Tiu on their hot start to the contest that eventually propelled them to victory.

Through this approach, the Blazers, despite being outscored in the fourth, 21-9, were able to fend off the Red Lions until the final buzzer. The nearest that the SBU could get to was 16, 79-63, after Yuki Andrada went 2-of-2 from the foul line with under a minute left.

Aside from Liwag, also contributing to this win by CSB were Tony Ynot (17 points, four assists, three rebounds), and Jhomel Ancheta (11 points, six rebounds, five assists). 

The Blazers will face Mapua University in the Best-of-3 Finals series which starts on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

READ: Clint Escamis fires career-best 33 to lead Mapua back to Finals

AJ Royo was the Red Lions' leading scorer in their final Season 100 game, posting 14 markers and four boards, while Penny Estacio followed him with 10 points and three rebounds. 

Jomel Puno, meanwhile, missed the Final 4 game due to an ankle injury.

THE SCORES:

CSB 79 — Liwag 20, Ynot 17, Ancheta 11, Sanchez 9, Cometa 5, Turco 4, Sangco 3, Oli 3, Eusebio 3, Torres 2, Ondoa 2, Cajucom 0, Morales 0, Serrano 0, Jarque 0

San Beda 63 — Royo 14, Estacio 10, Andrada 7, Sajonia 6, RC Calimag 6, Bonzalida 5, Lina 4, Payosing 4, Tagle 3, Gonzales 2, Songcuya 2, Celzo 0, Tagala 0, Jalbuena 0, Richi Calimag 0

Quarterscores: 25-14, 53-27, 70-42, 79-63