Arellano stuns San Beda, gains q’finals

LORD Casajeros of UE (left) fights it out for ball possession with Tirso Lesmoras (right) and Dexter Zamora of LPU at San Juan Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

John Pinto punctuated his brilliance with the game-winning shot as Arellano stunned San Beda College, 67-66, yesterday to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup.

Pinto, the sophomore guard from Davao nailed a stepback jumper with 64 seconds remaining to lift the Chiefs to their fifth victory in seven outings at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lions bungled a chance to win the game when Baser Amer, who earlier put San Beda within one point, turned the ball over with eight seconds remaining.

“You may call it a lucky win but we made it happen,” said Arellano coach Koy Banal in Filipino.

The Lions fell to 3-2, but remain on track of clinching a quarterfinal berth.

Later, University of the East notched its fifth victory after an 82-72 trouncing of Lyceum, while Emilio Aguinaldo College finally barged into the win column with a stunning 73-68 victory over San Sebastian.

Roi Sumang led a third-quarter outburst on his way to 19 points as the Warriors took control after trailing, 50-57.  Carla Perez