NCAA: San Beda evades meltdown vs San Sebastian

Ola Adeogun stars for San Beda. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

San Beda escaped a huge meltdown and picked up its slack late to score a 92-81 victory over San Sebastian Thursday in the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena.

Down by 17, 78-61, at the start of the fourth, San Sebastian clawed its way back and held San Beda scoreless for the next six minutes as the Stags unleashed a 16-0 run to pull within 78-77 with 4:14 left to play.

San Beda managed to keep the lead but Ryan Costelo drove to the basket to pull the Stags within 84-81 with 1:59 remaining.

But the Red Lions got back at the Stags and kept San Sebastian scoreless up until the buzzer with Ryusei Koga and Art Dela Cruz nailing big baskets to save the game for the six-peat-seeking San Beda.

Ola Adeogun was huge in the victory, tallying a double-double of 28 points and 14 rebounds, while Dela Cruz had 13 markers, nine boards, and five assists. Koga finished with 12 points, as Pierre Tankoua got 11.

“We can’t afford to put your guards down because this is a very competitive league,” said coach Jamike Jarin, who had to weather a competitive game against one of the league’s cellar-dwellers.

Costelo paced San Sebastian (2-7) with 18 points, six coming in the payoff period, eight rebounds and four assists, while Michael Calisaan wound up with 17 in the defeat.

The Scores:

SAN BEDA 92 – Adeogun 28, De La Cruz 13, Koga 12, Tankoua 11, Sara 10, Tongco 8, Mocon 6, Cabanag 3, Sorela 1, Soberano 0, Reyes 0, Bonsubre 0, Presbitero 0, Sedillo 0.

SAN SEBASTIAN 81 – Costelo 18, Calisaan 17, Ortuoste 13, Fabian 10, Guinto 9, Bulanadi 5, Santos 3, Sibal 2, David 2, Capobres 2, Pretta 0, Mercado 0.

Quarters: 27-20, 53-39, 78-61, 92-81.