De La Salle University trashed the Japan University Basketball Select, 88-75, Sunday to book a return trip to the final of the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) at the Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Kean Baclaan dropped 18 points to propel the Green Archers to a championship clash with the winner of the Nippon Sports Science University and Korea University.

The final will be staged Monday.

A fadeaway jumper from Baclaan with 2:39 remaining in the second quarter capped an 18-5 run that made a slim 19-17 lead at the end of the first period to a 37-22 advantage for the defending WUBS champions.

La Salle even led by as many as 26 points, 53-27, after Doy Dungo drained a corner triple with 7:43 left in the third quarter.

Michael Phillips delivered a double-double performance of 13 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks for La Salle while Dungo and Earl Abadam added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Kouki Ishikawa led the Japanese with 14 points as they were relegated to the bronze medal match.

Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines lost to the University of Sydney, 77-96, in the classification phase.

Terrence Fortea finished with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals as the Fighting Maroons lost their first two games in this annual overseas competition.