INQUIRER Sports

GAMES SATURDAY (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m.—San Beda vs Letran (Jrs)
4 p.m.—San Beda vs San Sebastian (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines - Ferocious and composed when it mattered, San Sebastian nipped three-time defending champion San Beda, 72-68, after a thrilling double overtime duel Thursday night to move within a win of ending a seven-year title drought in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Stags, the latest challengers to the Red Lions’ throne, refused to flinch at crunchtime with Jimbo Aquino and Calvin Abueva delivering the late scoring punch.

Rookie Abueva landed the final blow in the highly physical showdown, pulling down his 23rd rebound on San Beda’s last possession and then nailing two free throws with barely six seconds left to play.

“It’s a great experience to win an overtime game for the first time,” said coach Ato Agustin. “I saw the composure of the team. They never gave up.”

The Stags can clinch the title with a victory in Game 2 tomorrow.

The Lions, who found themselves in an unfamiliar 0-1 situation in a title series for the first time under coach Frankie Lim, must win to forge a rubber match Thursday.

Aquino finished with a game-high 24 points, including nine in the first period, and 12 rebounds, while Abueva, aside from a season-high output in rebounds, came through with 10 points and five blocks.

The Stags failed to win it in regulation after blowing several attempts with the score tied at 53. Then Lion Borgie Hermida pierced the lane and made a difficult layup with six seconds remaining to send the game into a second overtime, 62-all.

“I think stopping their fastbreak game won it for us,” said Agustin, whose team limited the Lions to just 12 points on transition.

San Beda held San Sebastian scoreless in the last 5:20 of the fourth quarter, while drawing six points from Rome Dela Rosa, who forced overtime with a long jumper with 12 seconds remaining. Dela Rosa had gone 1-of-10 from the field before making the 18-footer.

Earlier, the San Beda Red Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the juniors series as they hammered out a 98-75 victory over the Letran Squires.

Baser Amer sizzled with 19 points and dished out 10 assists as the Red Cubs inched closer to regaining the title they last won four years ago. The Red Cubs are gunning for a 17th title overall.

The scores:
First Game (Jrs)
SAN BEDA 98—Amer 19, Moralde 18, Dela Cruz 12, Sara 11, Gotladera 7, Ludovice 7, Chavez 6, Dela Costa 6, Amin 5, Javier 4, Abatayo 2, Monteclaro 1, Lunas 0, Nayve 0, Nazareno 0.

LETRAN 75—Tampus 31, Khobuntin 15, Cruz 12, Cudal 9, Ongteco 8, So 0, Inigo 0, Cabigas 0, Reyes 0, Cabahug 0, Roxas 0.
Quarters: 24-19, 54-32, 79-53, 98-75

Second Game (Srs)
SAN SEBASTIAN 72—Aquino 24, Sangalang 14, Abueva 10, Raymundo 7, Semira 6, Bulawan 4, Maconocido 3, Pascual 2, Najorda 2, Del Rio 0, Gatchalian 0.

SAN BEDA 68—Lanete 11, Daniel 11, Hermida 11, Gamalinda 11, Dela Rosa 8, Marcelo 8, Pascual 6, Caram 2, Tecson 0, Tirona 0.
Quarters: 21-16, 40-32, 47-40, 53-53 (1st OT), 62-62 (2nd OT), 72-68