San Beda Red Lions’ end pre-season on a winning roll, nab 3rd place vs UST Tigers

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MANILA, Philippines—San Beda nipped University of Santo Tomas, 74-70, on Wednesday to seize third place at the close of the 2013 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the Arena in San Juan.

More than taking home the bronze honors, the Red Lions also hope to carry over their winning roll in the pre-season tournament to the NCAA season 89—which is only 10 days away.

“We wanted to win for the school and so we could get a good start in the NCAA,” said forward Art Dela Cruz, whose freethrows down the stretch kept San Beda afloat.

Dela Cruz accounted for the last four makers for the Red Lions, which proved to be crucial in fending of a last ditch rally by the Tigers.

“UST will always come back from deficits. They got the never-say-die attitude from their coach [Pido Jarencio],” said head coach Boyet Fernandez.

The Red Lions built a 68-57 lead with under four minutes to play on a triple—San Beda’s lone conversion—by Baser Amer, before UST went on a 7-0 run and keep the game close.

Five red shirts wound up in double digits with Amer leading the way with 15. It was a stark contrast from UST’s, where only Jeric Teng and Karim Abdul carried the cudgels.

Teng had 27 points, including three triples, along with seven rebounds, and four assists  while Abdul scored 12 and plucked nine boards and swatted away three shots.

The Tigers, meanwhile, are 17 days away from the UAAP season 76.

The scores:

San Beda 74—Amer 15, Dela Rosa 13, Adeogun 12, Pascual 12, Dela Cruz 10, Mendoza 4, Abarcar 4, Koga 2, Ludovice 0, Semerad A. 0, Semerad D. 0, Sara 0, Villaruz 0.

UST 70—Teng 27, Abdul 12, Mariano 9, Bautista 7, Lo 6, Daquioag 5, So 2, Pe 0, Ferrer 0, Sheriff 0, Tan 0, Macasaet 0, Lao 0, Hainga 0.