Art de la Cruz Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
San Beda College pounced on University of the East, 80-78, to take the second place in Group B of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Premier Cup on Saturday at Arena in San Juan City.
Both the Red Lions and Red Warriors have 6-2 win-loss records but the defending NCAA champions got the higher seed by virtue of their win over the UAAP school.
Jordan Sta. Ana put UE closer to San Beda with a layup off an offensive board to trim the deficit at 75-74 with 2:32 remaining.
San Beda, however, broke the UE press with Art de la Cruz finding an open lane to the basket to put the Red Lions up 77-74 at the 1:05 mark.
Red Lions head coach Jamike Jarin said his team “needed to win” the game against the rebuilding Red Warriors.
“UE is a contender even though they don’t have Roi Sumang or any of the core players before,” Jarin said. “I know coach Derek Pumaren, UE will overachieve.”
Ola Adeogun followed up De la Cruz’s basket with an easy layup to give San Beda a 79-74 lead with 30.7 seconds remaining.
Jarin said a team that pressed too much would eventually “commit mistakes.”
De la Cruz led the Red Lions with a 17-point, 12-rebound, 6-assist performance while Pierre Tankoua had 16 points and nine boards.
San Beda played without point guard Baser Amer who was with the national team in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.
Sta. Ana led UE with 17 points and five rebounds. RC