Lions survive Altas fightback

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda bucked a furious Perpetual Help rally then pounced on Earl Scottie Thompson’s miscue in the closing seconds to pull off an 83-81 decision and grab solo second in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Micole Sorela canned in two free throws after Thompson blew the Altas’ bid to equalize with a costly error on an in-bound play, giving the Red Lions a four-point cushion, 83-79, with 6.6 seconds left in the highly physical contest after leading by 11, 65-54, on a basket by JV Mocon early in the fourth.

Perpetual still had a mathematical chance to at least send the game into overtime after Thompson was fouled from outside the arc in the ensuring play. But the pro-bound cager missed the front end of his charities and made the next two and the Altas failed to stop the clock, enabling the Lions to complete the win.

The victory put San Beda at second with a 5-1 card, just behind the unbeaten Letran side (5-0) while dropping the Altas to joint fourth with the Jose Rizal U at 4-2 after the Bombers routed the St. Benilde Blazers. 67-49, in the first game.

Idle Arellano took solo third with a 4-1 mark.

Arthur dela Cruz erupted for 25 points but it was the Lions’ key defensive stops that helped foil the Altas’ comeback bid after the Las Piñas-based squad dominated the first 20 minutes of play and struck back in the closing minutes.

Sorela ended up with a season-best 15 points but it was his steal off Thompson that sealed the Lions’ victory.

“Those key stops in the end helped us a lot,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.

Nigerian Bright Akhuetie atoned for his seven-point, six-rebound performance in a 71-79 loss to the Knights last Thursday with a 25-point show spiked by game-highs 16 rebounds and six steals. But Thompson struggled from the foul line, muffing eight of his 15 tries after coming into the match with an impressive 83.3 percent clip.

Thompson, who dished out two triple doubles in their first five games, still wound up with 20 points but failed to keep his composure when hounded by Solera in a crucial in-bound play.

San Beda’s Ola Adeogun also came back from a scoreless first half to finish with 11 points, including six in the fourth quarter.

“I just tried to play decoy in the first half but I realized I should help in the scoring,” said Adeogun.

Earlier, Tey Teodoro, who sizzled for a season-high 25 ponts in a 75-60 romp over the Lyceum Pirates last week, sustained his hot-shooting and fired 21 points as Jose Rizal U extended its run to three.

“The reason why we did good in the pre-season is because of him, he’s our go-to-guy,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses, referring to Teodoro, who helped power the school to the Fr. Martin Summer Cup title and a third place finish in the Filoil tilt.

Jose Rizal also held St. Benilde to the league’s second lowest output, second only to the total points scored by Emilio Aguinaldo in a 47-67 loss to the same Kalentong-based school squad.

“I just told the team if we can hold our opponent to less than 70 points, we have a chance to win. I’m glad they responded,” said Meneses.

The Blazers fell to 1-5.