Lions ride on Adeogun’s sterling game, thwart Knights

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda drew strength from Nigerian Ola Adeogun's monster effort and Art dela Cruz’s clutch shooting as the Lions outlasted the Letran Knights in a nail-biting 76-72 overtime victory to seize the solo lead and close in on the top seeding in the Final Four of the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Monday night.

Playing before a sea of red and blue expecting a sneak preview of this year's championship, the 6-8 Adeogun responded to the challenge and owned Letran foe Raymond Almazan with a mammoth 26-point, 26-rebound and two-block effort as the Lions regained the lead they lost weeks before.

"No secret. We just try to play as hard as we can every single time we're on the court," said Adeogun, who thanked San Beda benefactor, alumnus Manny V. Pangilinan, who watched and cheered from the sidelines.

Play by play, big shot after big shot, the Lions and the Knights traded clutch baskets and had four of five deadlocks of the game coming in OT.

But it was Dela Cruz who was at the right place at right time as he plucked the offensive rebound off a Baser Amer's missed 3-pointer and scored on a floater that turned out the go-ahead basket with 21 seconds.

Needing just a basket to forge another deadlock, Jonathan Belorio, who hit a massive triple in regulation that helped force extra time, was left open atop the arc and got tempted with the three he attempted and missed.

Amer plucked the rebound, fouled by Mark Cruz and made the dagger foul shots.

Mark Cruz paced the Knights with 25 points but saw little or nothing from the 6-7 Almazan, who was totally outclassed by Adeogun and finished with just 13 points.

Worse, Almazan, the leading MVP candidate who is expected to go in the first round of this year's PBA rookie draft next month, missed what could have been the game-winner, the second of two foul shots late in regulation.

The Muralla-based dribblers were hoping for a win that will clinch it its first No. 1 finish since making it that far eight seasons ago. Instead, Letran fell to second with a 14-4 slate.

The scores

San Beda 76 – Adeogon 26, Dela Rosa 13, Amer 12, Dela Cruz 8, Sara 7, Koga 4, D. Semerad 4, Abarcar 2, Mendoza 0, K. Pascual 0, Ludovice 0

Letran 72 – Cruz 25, Almazan 13, Racal 11, Tambeling 10, Belorio 9, Ruaya 2, Gabawan 2, Castro 0, Luib0, Nambatac 0, Buenaflor 0, Publico 0

Quarterscores: 14-9, 28-19, 36-43, 64-64 (OT) 76-72