Arboleda’s free throws with 0.2 left lift Perpetual Help over San Beda
MANILA, Philippines — Harold Arboleda knocked in the game-winning free throws with less than a second left as Perpetual Help salvaged a 76-75 squeaker over defending champion San Beda in the NCAA Season 90 men’s basketball tournament Monday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Arboleda scored only nine points but his last four points came in the final one minute and 44 seconds when the Altas, who are in a tight race for a Final Four spot, needed it most.
The 6-foot-2 forward Arboleda, who was drafted by the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the PBA Rookie Draft last August, took matters into his own hands amid a furious Red Lions fightback.
Arobleda’s heady play also bailed out his teammate Juneric Baloria’s head-scratching play — fouling San Beda’s Nigerian import Ola Adeogun from the other end of the court with 11.6 seconds left — that resulted to the Red Lions taking a 75-74 edge after Art dela Cruz’s put back after Adeogun missed his second free throw with 9.5 ticks remaining.
Dela Cruz however, was called with a foul after he got into Arboleda’s body after biting on a pump fake with 0.2 tenths of a second left.
Arboleda, taking a 3-pointer from the top of the key when he took the contact from dela Cruz, badly missed his first free throw before calmly sinking his last two. He also grabbed nine rebounds and went 6-of-7 at the line.
Perpetual Help moved just half a game behind host Jose Rizal University and College of St. Benilde, who are in third and fourth place with identical 9-5 records.
The Altas, who upped their mark to 9-6, also foiled the Lions’ bid to secure the first twice-to-beat advantage.
Perpetual Help took a 14-point lead, 63-49, entering the final frame after outscoring San Beda, 29-18, in the third quarter.
San Beda, which is gunning its eighth championship in nine seasons, absorbed its first setback in the second round and still remained in first place with a 13-3 mark.
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