NCAA: Red Lions, Bombers pull off Houdini act

MANILA — Prized rookie Baser Amer broke out of a slump as San Beda pulled off a 79-78 escape over St. Benilde Friday to grab a share of the lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Amer knocked in all his 11 points in the last six minutes, nine coming from beyond the arc, as he helped the Lions keep pace with a pesky St. Benilde side that had an answer to almost every San Beda basket.

Jose Rizal University also triumphed by the slimmest of margins as the Heavy Bombers fought back from 18 points down to shock Mapua, 70-69, in the first game.

The Blazers had a chance to forge an upset after Amer, the former Red Cub who bagged last year’s juniors MVP, missed two free throws with 8.9 ticks left.

But St. Benilde chief gunner Carlo Lastimosa missed on a tough floater in the dwindling seconds, consigning the Blazers to their third loss in four games.

“We almost got burned,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim after the defending champions tied San Sebastian on top at 4-0.

“I was the only one who believed that St. Benilde can pull an upset on us and that was the big problem. They thought they can easily beat them. I don’t think they (Lions) played that hard.”

Jake Pascual scored the decisive basket for the Lions, who also drew a team-high 16 points from Kyle Pascual.

Before the game, Lim’s Lions had been winning by an average of 20 points since their perfect 18-0 title romp last year.

Outhustling the Cardinals in the final stretch, the Bombers scored off consecutive turnovers while holding their opponent scoreless in the last four minutes.

“Luckily, in the last part of the fourth quarter, our defense picked up,” said coach Vergel Meneses after his Bombers improved to 2-2. “I told them I wanted to see a different JRU in the second half.”

The Heavy Bombers rose from a 37-55 hole with the trio of Jeckster Apinan, John Lopez and Raycon Kabigting fueling the second-half charge.

The scores:

First Game
JOSE RIZAL 70—Lopez 17, Apinan 16, Kabigting 14, Villarias 10, Almario 6, Mendoza 4, Carampil 2, Monserat 1, Paniamogan 0, Dela Paz 0, Montemayor 0.
MAPUA 69—Nimes 19, Taha 15, Banal 11, Mangahas 7, Ighalo 6, Stevens 5, Pascual 4, Parala 2, Ranises 0, Chien 0, Sarangay 0.
Quarters: 10-25, 28-40, 48-60, 70-69
Second Game
SAN BEDA 79—Pascual K. 16, Lanete 12, Amer 11, Semerad A. 8, Caram 8, Pascual J. 7, Marcelo 7, Dela Rosa 5, Semerad D. 3, Sorela 2, Pontejos 0, Villahermosa 0, Lim 0.
ST. BENILDE 78—Lastimosa 19, Grey 13, Taha 11, Sinco 10, McCoy 8, Romero 6, Dela Paz 5, Altamirano 4, Deles 2, Tan 0.
Quarters: 21-16, 41-38, 60-57, 79-78