Adeogun stars as San Beda nips Benilde behind 4th quarter charge

Ola Adeogun. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

San Beda found the groove in the fourth quarter after a minor glitch in the third and nipped College of St. Benilde, 73-67, in the 91st NCAA seniors basketball tournament Thursday at San Juan Arena.

The Red Lions were in control for much of the game but were slowed down in the third when the Blazers outscored them 20-9 to end the penultimate quarter just behind, 50-48.

San Beda, however, would start the fourth quarter on a hunt as Jeramer Cabanag sparked a 13-2 run to establish a 63-50 lead.

Red Lions head coach Jamike Jarin said Cabanag had to make sacrifices for a loaded team after enjoying the spotlight in Bacolod.

“Jeramer is an all-around athlete for us,” Jarin said after clinching its fourth win in five games and stay in third spot of the tournament. “He was a go-to guy in Bacolod and now he’s making sacrifices for the team.”

St. Benilde cut the San Beda lead to six, 62-68, late in the fourth after Gerard Castor scored on a layup off an assist from Jose Saavedra.

Still, the Red Lions showed composure and scored five unanswered to go up 73-62 with 1:10 remaining in the game.

Ola Adeogun led the Red Lions with 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting, 13 rebounds, and one block while Art De La Cruz had 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Cabanag had nine points for San Beda.

Jonathan Grey and Saavedra led the 1-4 Blazers with 16 and 15 points respectively. CFC