Lions nip Knights in OT

JOHN Tambeling of Letran tries to keep the ball against Yvan Ludovice of San Beda. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

This time, Ola Adeogun’s big game did not go down the drain for San Beda.

The Nigerian center threw his weight around anew for 26 points and 26 rebounds as San Beda outlasted Letran, 76-72, in overtime to claim the inside track in the race for the No. 1 seed heading into the semifinals of the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With the victory, the Lions improved to 14-3, moving ahead of the Knights who wrapped up their elimination round campaign with a 14-4 record.

A victory by the Lions against the Arellano Chiefs on Saturday will give the defending champions the No. 1 seeding in the Final Four, but a loss will mean a playoff with the Knights.

The 6-foot-8 Adeogun played superb in the first round meeting with 27 points against the Knights, but Letran proved steadier and came away with a 74-67 win.

Adeogun and his teammates flipped the script last night, showing steely resolve to rally from eight points down in the final period, before keeping their composure in overtime to the delight of the San Beda gallery.

“The players did not want to lose this ballgame,” said coach Boyet Fernandez. “We were down by eight but they just did not give up.”

“I wasn’t aware that this was happening because I just was focused on defense,” said Adeogun after posting the best individual performance of the season.

Rome dela Rosa scored on a drive and hit a couple of crucial foul shots to push the Lions ahead, 74-72, with 21.3 seconds remaining before Adeogun wrapped up the win with two free throws with 2.9 seconds remaining.

“Getting that No. 1 seed is all about pride,” said Fernandez.

The Lions, who also got an unlikely lift from Dan Sara, turned a 48-55 deficit to a 62-57 lead with 1:04 remaining after big shots from Adeogun, Dela Rosa and Baser Amer.

But the Knights fought back with Jojo Belorio burying a triple and Mark Cruz completing a three-point play after an Amer basket to trim San Beda’s lead, 63-64.

Letran bungled a chance to snatch the win in regulation as Raymond Almazan only managed a split from the foul line, 5.9 seconds left.

Earlier, point guard Dexter Zamora reprised his role as a fourth-quarter hero as Lyceum repulsed St. Benilde, 66-54, to end its campaign on a winning note.

In the junior division, San Beda,  drawing strength from the clutch play of Javee Mocon, rallied from an early deficit to overcome Letran, 95-84, and move within a victory of sweeping the elimination round.

The scores:

SAN BEDA 76—Adeogun 26, Dela Rosa 13, Amer 12, Dela Cruz 8, Sara 7, Koga 4, Semerad 4, Abarcar 2, Mendoza 0, Bonsubre 0, Pascual 0, Ludovice 0.

LETRAN 72—Cruz 25, Almazan 13, Racal 11, Tambeling 10, Belorio 9, Ruaya 2, Gabawan 2, Castro 0, Po 0, Luib 0, Nambatac 0, Buenaflor 0, Publico 0.

Quarters: 14-9, 28-19, 43-36, 64-64 (reg), 76-72