Red Lions repel Chiefs for No. 4

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda notched a fourth straight victory, but not before surviving a scare from a gritty Arellano squad, 90-81, Saturday in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament before a huge crowd at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Baser Amer and Ola Adeogun sparkled down the stretch as the Red Lions passed their toughest yet by showing poise and composure in a frenetic fourth quarter.

The Lions almost squandered an 18-point lead in the second half, before turning to veterans Amer and Adeogun to bail them out in the face of the Chiefs’ spirited charge.

Taking matters into his own hands in the final minutes, Amer wound up with 18 points and seven assists, the last paving the way for an Adeogun’s basket that lifted the Lions up at 82-79 with 1:52 remaining.

Amer drained two free throws and laid up with 48 seconds left after John Pinto trimmed the deficit, 81-84.

“Credit to Baser for stepping up in the fourth quarter,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

“I just got mad because we were not following our gameplan. We allowed them to get fastbreaks. We got beaten off the boards. I hope we learn our lessons here.”

The Chiefs lost for the first time in three games.

But coach Jerry Codinera’s charges did not go down without a fight even after trailing by double-digits for most of the way.

Levi Hernandez and Jiovani Jalalon spearheaded the comeback in the fourth quarter, where they combined for 17 points.

Trailing 50-64 at the start of the final period, the Chiefs blitzed the Lions with a 7-0 run to start the quarter.

But San Beda rookie Ranbill Tongco cushioned the blow with a couple of long triples.

The scores:

SAN BEDA 90—Amer 18, Dela Cruz 17, Adeogun 13, Koga 8, A. Semerad 8, Tongco 7, Pascual 6, Mocon 5, D. Semerad 4, Cabanag 2, Mendoza 2, Sara 0, Abude 0.

ARELLANO 81—Hernandez 20, Jalalon 17, Holts 9, Caperal 8, Pinto 6, Agovida 5, Nicholls 4, Enriquez 4, Salcedo 3, Ciriacruz 2, Cadavis 2, Bangga 1, Gumaru 1.

Quarters: 24-17, 47-35, 64-54, 90-81