Arellano blemishes San Beda's record with stunner in NCAA Juniors hoops

Games Tuesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

12 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs EAC (Srs)

2 p.m. – Arellano U vs LPU (Srs)

4 p.m. – San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines – Arellano University made the key plays on both ends in the stretch as it pulled off a shock 93-90 victory over reigning seven-peat champion San Beda to seize the solo lead in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Guillmer dela Torre and Lars Sunga combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 of their team's final 13 points, while Aaron Fermin had a season-high seven blocks, including one on San Beda's Sam Abu Hijle with seconds to go to help hand the Braves their eighth straight win and the top spot.

Dela Torre wound up with a game-high 28 points, Sunga finished with 16, while Fermin spiked his blocking spree with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

"I told them to erase their doubts and show them we're here to win," said Arellano U coach Tylon Darjuan, whose charges came a win away from unseating the mighty Cubs when the Braves lost in the deciding Game Three in the finals last season.

It was a closely contested duel as both teams had to go through 11 deadlocks and 21 lead changes, the last when dela Torre completed a three-point play off a foul by Evan Nelle that erased an 88-90 deficit and gave his team the lead for good.

Sunga, for his part, scored seven straight points in critical stretch in the final canto that kept Arellano in the game before the lightning-quick Dela Torre took over in the stretch by making the decisive shots.

Darjuan, however, heaped praised on the 6-5 Fermin, who came through with his best defensive effort of the season.

"He was recommended to me by my late friend Gilbert Bulawan and we went to had to travel for six hours just to see him," said Darjuan referring to Fermin, who hails from Licab, a fourth class municipality of Nueva Ecija.

San Beda, which was led by Abu Hijle and Germy Mahinay with 15 points apiece, fell to second spot, absorbing its first defeat of the season after seven wins in row.

The scores:

Arellano 93 – Dela Torre 28, Sunga 16, Abadeza 11, Fermin 11, Anacito 8, Espiritu 7, Dimaunahan 5, Danas 3, Rivera 3, Batiler 1, de Leon 0, Fornis 0, Tamayo 0

San Beda 90 – Abu Hijle 15, Mahinay 15, Etrata 11, Obenza 11, Tagala 10, Alfaro 9, Velasquez 8, Lagumen 5, Nayve 5, Nelle 1, dela Rosa 0, Garcia 0

Quarterscores: 19-all; 39-all; 64-67; 93-90