Defending champion San Beda proved tougher down the stretch to pound out a narrow 83-81 victory over Perpetual Help Tuesday and regain solo second spot in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Playing the team that it has beaten in the Final Four in the last three seasons, the Red Lions came out on top with a brilliant defensive display in the last two minutes, while drawing clutch baskets from unheralded Micole Sorela.
READ: Red Lions escape Altas for solo second
Coming up with his best performance yet, Sorela nailed a baseline jumper with 1:24 left to preserve a four-point gap, before stealing the ball off Altas star Earl Scottie Thompson in an inbound play with 6.6 ticks to go.
Sorela drew a foul off Thompson and converted two free throws to seal the win, 83-79.
Thompson was fouled while taking a triple with two seconds remaining. But he missed the first foul shot and buried the next two as San Beda notched its fifth win in six games.
READ: Del Rosario defends Thompson after end-game miscues in Altas loss
“They (Perpetual Help) just kept coming back, but we came back harder,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin, whose team roared to a third straight win. “It’s hard that one team had to lose. Fortunately for us, we got the victory.”
SAN Beda slotman Ola Adeogun tries to avoid a fallen Bright Akhueti after the Perpetual Help center slipped during a rebound scramble in yesterday’s game at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Earlier, Jose Rizal rolled to a third straight victory at the expense of St. Benilde, 67-49.
READ: Teodoro taking charge for Heavy Bombers
Five days removed from his career game against Lyceum, Tey Teodoro came out with all guns blazing anew with 21 points as the Heavy Bombers improved to 4-2, tying the Altas at fourth spot.
The Lions threatened to pull away when Javee Mocon knocked in a lay-up for a 65-54 advantage with 9:04 remaining. But three straight triples from Gab Dagangon allowed the Altas to stay in the thick of the fight.
The loss was painful for Thompson who apart from his crucial turnover also had a rough day at the foul line.
Entering the game missing just five of his 30 free throws this season, the reigning Most Valuable Player went 5-of-13 this time with five charity misses coming in the final period.
Perpetual Help center Bright Akhuetie cut the lead, 79-81, with a difficult short stab over Ola Adeogun with 26 seconds remaining and San Beda came up empty in the next possession only for Thompson to commit the crucial turnover that doomed the Altas, now 1-5.
Art dela Cruz shone for San Beda with 25 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, while Adeogun tallied 11 points and 13 boards.
The scores:
First Game:
JRU 67—Teodoro 21, Grospe 9, Poutouochi 7, dela Paz 7, Cruz 6, Pontejos 5, Sanchez 5, Balagtas 3, Abdulwahab 2, dela Virgen 2, Lasquety 0, Estrella 0
ST. BENILDE 49—Ongteco 10, Saavedra 10, Nayve 7, Castor 6, Grey 6, Fajarito 5, Young 2, San Juan 2, Jonson 1, J. Domingo 0, S. Domingo 0, Deles 0, Sta. Maria 0
Quarters: 15-14, 39-22, 55-31, 67-49
Second Game
SAN BEDA 83—Dela Cruz 25, Sorela 15, Adeogun 11, Tongco 10, Tankoua 7, Sara 5, Soberano 4, Koga 2, Cabanag 2, Mocon 2, Reyes 0.
PERPETUAL HELP 81—Akhuetie 25, Thompson 20, Dagangon 18, Coronel 6, Dizon 3, Eze 3, Tamayo 2, Gallardo 2, Cabiltes 2, Oliveria 0, Ylagan 0, Bantayan 0, Sadiwa 0, Elopre 0.
Quarters: 19-18, 39-35, 60-54, 83-81