College of St. Benilde ousted defending champion San Beda, 79-63, to arrange a championship showdown with Mapua in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Saturday, Nov. 23.

The Blazers went on full throttle against the struggling Red Lions, firing on all cylinders and imposing their might throughout to return to the finals for the first time since 2022.

Allen Liwag led St. Benilde’s scoring assault by firing 20 points and collaring eight rebounds, while Winston Ynot and Jhomel Ancheta also stepped up on both ends with 17 and 11 points, respectively, including combined nine rebounds and nine assists.

The Blazers dictated the pace and led by as many as 30 points, 70-40, late in the third with Liwag, Yinot and Justine Sanchez conspiring for 14 of the team’s 28 points.

San Beda attempted to salvage its campaign by holding St. Benilde by nine points in the payoff period, but ran out of time.

It also didn’t help that key players like Yukien Andrada and Bryan Sajonia were limited to single digits with seven and six points, respectively, as AJ Royo and Penny Estacio topscored with 14 and 10 points in a losing cause.

Meanwhile, Game 1 of St. Benilde’s finals against Mapua will be on Saturday, Dec. 1.

The scores:

ST. BENILDE 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.

Quarters: 25-14; 53-27; 70-42; 79-63.