Regulation didn’t cut it, and overtime nailed it.
Emerging from a see-saw regulation, San Beda preyed on the winded De La Salle in overtime, 86-80, to open their campaign in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup on Saturday evening at Arena in San Juan City.
Overtime belonged to the Red Lions as the pride only allowed two Green Archer field goals in the extra time.
Art de la Cruz started the 8-0 hunt for the Red Lions with a layup off the backboard and capped it off with a layup to give San Beda an 84-76 lead in the 2:44 mark of the extra period.
Red Lions head coach Jamike Jarin had to praise the Green Archers for pulling a comeback off their quiver that sent the game to overtime.
“I have to give credit where credit is due,” Jarin, a former high school coach, said. “Coach Juno [Sauler], his staff, his players show what kind of program De La Salle has.”
San Beda had La Salle wounded to start the fourth with a 10-point, 64-54, lead.
La Salle then went on an 8-0 shooting spree to take a 71-69 lead at the 2:15 mark of fourth with Kib Montalbo nailing a triple from the left wing.
Baser Amer gave the Red Lions a 76-73 lead with 47.9 left in the fourth after hitting a floater in the lane.
All the Red Lions had to do was drain the clock out but Jeron Teng streaked down court for an and-one layup with 17.6 remaining in regulation after a San Beda miss making it 76-75.
Teng converted on the bonus free throw that sent the game to overtime.
Jarin, even if it was his first game as the Red Lions’ head coach, said his players’ familiarity with the system led to the win.
He, however, could not discount the fact that they were careless.
De la Cruz said not much had changed from their system with former head coach Boyet Fernandez, who is now with the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, to their current one with Jarin.
It was only their defensive scheme that changed.
“What I like about Coach Jamike is that he showed to me that I can play pressure defense, man-to-man defense,” De la Cruz said. “He allows me and the others to play in our own style.”
“That’s my greatest strength, my personal relationship with the players,” Jarin said. “I bring out the best in them and they bring out the best in me.”
Amer was deadly for the Red Lions as he finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
Ola Adeogun added a double-double for San Beda with 15 points and 11 boards to go along with four blocks.
La Salle rookie Andrei Caracut, who was a former Red Cub, led the Green Archers with 22 points while Teng added 13. RC