INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - As San Beda's Bam Gamalinda scored off a crucial steal in the dwindling seconds, the Red Lions also snatched the solo lead that the San Sebastian Stags held all season long.

The Lions went on to slip past the Stags with a thrilling 71-67 triumph and forged a tie for the top spot at the end of the NCAA men?s basketball elimination round Monday at the jampacked FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With the victory, the Lions not only claimed the remaining twice-to-beat semifinal advantage, but also earned a shot at claiming the No. 1 seed in a playoff against the Stags at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

The winner of the Lions-Stags duel will take on the fourth-ranked Letran Knights in the Final Four, while the losing team will clash with the third-seeded Jose Rizal Bombers in the other semifinal match starting Friday.

American rookie Sudan Daniel paced the Lions with 19 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

But it was Gamalinda?s heroics in the last 33.8 seconds that shattered a 67-67 deadlock.

Gamalinda, a veteran swingman, scored an uncontested layup off a steal from San Sebastian star Jimbo Aquino for a 69-67 San Beda lead.

Borgie Hermida nailed two buffer free throws with five ticks remaining to seal the Lions? victory after the Stags blew a chance to tie the game with another turnover.

?Defensive stops were very important to us tonight; the players did a good job,? said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

The Lions also held Aquino, who leads the league in scoring at 20.9 points, to a single digit for the first time this season.

Aquino, one of the leading MVP contenders, wound up with nine points on a 3-of-10 shooting clip.

The Lions rallied from an eight-point deficit, 54-62, despite sinking only 15 of 31 free throw attempts.

The Red Cubs paved the way for a San Beda sweep by clobbering the Staglets, 101-80, to similarly forge a playoff for the top spot in junior play at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

The Varsity Scores:

SAN BEDA 71?Daniel 19, Lanete 15, Hermida 12, Pascual 6, Dela Rosa 6, Gamalinda 6, Tecson 3, Caram 2, Marcelo 2, Tirona 0.

SAN SEBASTIAN 67?Abueva 15, Sangalang 12, Pascual 12, Aquino 9,Maconocido 6, Najorda 5, Raymundo 3, Semira 3, Marquez 2, Del Rio 0.

Quarters: 15-18, 28-35, 54-56, 71-67