Robert Bolick and AC Soberano joined hands in overtime and helped defending champion San Beda weather a gutsy Letran stand, 80-76, Friday to stay unbeaten in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.
Soberano made two huge triples in overtime while Bolick hit the two free throws that cemented the win as the Lions logged a fifth straight victory, trailing only undefeated leader Lyceum (7-0).
“I salute him (Soberano), He came in and help us win this game,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez of Soberano. “Robert is Robert, he will win us games and he help us win again.”
Letran fell to 4-2.
Earlier, Maui Sera Josef fired 17 points as Arellano evened its card after six games following a 79-70 conquest of Jose Rizal U.
The Bombers sank to 0-6.
It was a sorry loss for the Knights, who had a chance to win it in regulation when Jerrick Balanza followed up on a JP Calvo miss to give Letran a 69-67 lead with 3.8 seconds left.
But Bolick set up Donaldo Tankoua for the game-tying reverse layup that forced extension.
In the first game, Emilio Aguinaldo College leaned on key foul shots in the stretch as it edged Mapua University, 89-85.
The Generals made 20 of 28 free throws after shooting 46 of 61 in their last two games.
Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou came out big with 17 points, 12 rebounds and a game-high six blocks, improving every game since returning from a knee injury that sidelined him most of last season.
“I’m not 100 percent; my hamstring still hurts a bit,” said Laminou.