INQUIRER Sports

Games Monday
(Cuneta Astrodome)
11:30 a.m. CSB-LSGH vs. JRU
2 p.m. SSC vs. JRU (Srs)
4 p.m. Letran vs. Mapua (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines -- Borgie Hermida scored on a running shot at the buzzer to lift San Beda Lions to a come-from-behind 65-63 overtime win over rival Letran last night in the NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Hermida released the game winner against big men Jam Cortes and JP Belencion from 17-feet, after RJ Jazul tied the game with a lay-up with 6.2 seconds left.

Hermida's shot capped an improbable comeback for the Lions, who played half the game without their Nigerian big man Sam Ekwe.

San Beda coach Frankie Lim opted to freeze Ekwe on the bench for almost the entire second half, after his sub-par performance in a season-low 19-minute stint on court.

Pong Escobal stepped up, hitting 13 of his 15 points to anchor San Beda's comeback from 13 points down in the second quarter.

The Lions finished the elimination-round with an 11-3 card to clinch the No. 1 seed in the semifinals.

The Lions looked doomed when Ogie Menor could only split his free throws with more than a minute left in regulation and Letran leading, 56-51.

But Hermida scored on a lay-up and Menor completed his steal with a basket to cut the deficit, 53-54, with 33 seconds left.

"Collectively, we showed a lot of character and a lot of heart. We deserve to be No. 1," Lim said.

The Lions put to naught Jazul's impressive performance. The junior guard hit five of 10 shots from beyond the arc and also had three steals.

The Knights, who lost, despite forcing 29 turnovers, fell to a four-way tie with San Sebastian, Mapua and Jose Rizal U for second at 9-5.

Letran will play Mapua on Monday with the winner facing the victor between SSC and JRU for the No. 2 seed and the twice-to-beat incentive in the semis. The losers of both games will play in a knockout match for the last spot.

Earlier, Jose Rizal U topped the cheerleading competition by posting 198.8 points. Mapua was adjudged second with 190.1 points, followed by St. Benilde with 188.3. Three-time defending champion Perpetual Help plummeted to fifth.

The Scores:

San Beda 65 --- Escobal 15, Hermida 14, Menor 8, Tirona 7, Gamalinda 7, , Ekwe 4, Pascual 4, Marcelo 0.

Letran 63 --- Jazul 18, Daa 10, Del Rosario 9, Melegrito 6, Guevarra 5, Ranises 4, Dangcal 3, Foronda C. 0, Foronda J. 0, Gutilban 0.

Quarters: 9-20, 23-30, 39-42, 54-54, 65-63