NEEDING someone to steady the ship, San Beda turned to its heady playmaker and got its campaign back on track in the NCAA Season 89 basketball tournament.
Baser Amer delivered big plays as the defending champion Red Lions notched back to back wins for the first time this season to climb to second spot, just behind the unbeaten Letran Knights.
San Beda split its first two games to open the season. But with Amer making an impact with his court generalship, the Lions quickly recovered with triumphs over contender Arellano and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
In those triumphs, the Lions needed a strong fourth quarter, thanks to the efforts of Amer, who averaged 13 points, six assists and 3.5 rebounds in the past two games.
“Baser is part and parcel of what we do. He is an important player,” said coach Boyet Fernandez of Amer who was named Accel 3XVI Player of the Week. “He’s become a mature player and makes good decisions.”
In San Beda’s 67-54 win against the Chiefs last Thursday, the Davao-born guard pumped in eight of his 12 points in the last period. He also helped San Beda put away EAC with seven of his 14 points in an 80-65 win last Monday.
“Hopefully our good performance continues,” said Amer, who bested Raymond Almazan of Letran and Lyceum’s Dexter Zamora for the honor presented by Gatorade.