San Beda explodes in fourth quarter to trip Perpetual Help

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda exploded in the payoff period to beat Perpetual Help, 82-75, Saturday in the 2013 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the Arena in San Juan.

Francis Abarcar had a career game as he dropped 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting to pace the Red Lions, who succesfully stopped the Altas on their tracks after a hot third quarter.

San Beda overhauled a 53-59 deficit at the end of third. A triple from Baser Amer with 1:58 remaining stretched the Red Lions’ lead to 78-73.

Amer finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Nigerian center Ola Adeogun also notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.

“I credit my boys. They stepped up. They came back from a loss from Arellano,” said head coach Boyet Fernandez, whose squad failed to escape the Chiefs last Wednesday, 66-67.

But Fernandez allayed any concern for the Red Lions, saying in Filipino, “Our problem right now is because we focus on individual skills in our United States training.”

“We needed to bounce back. Coach [Boyet] was right, we need to study what we’re lacking,” said Amer.

The Red Lions were outscored, 14-23, in the third quarter and their 21 miscues paved way for 16 points for the Altas.

San Beda improved to 4-2 in group A, while Perpetual Help has a 4-5 record.

Juneric Baloria also sizzled with 22 points for the Altas but on a losing effort as Nosa Omorgbe, who nailed two triples, added 17.

Perpetual Help took care of the leather quite well, having only six turnovers in the game, but couldn’t get the better of San Beda in the rebounding department, 34-47.