Chiefs shock Lions on Pinto clutch hits

Games tomorrow

12:45 p.m. – UST vs Lyceum 

2:30 p.m. – Adamson vs UP 

4:15 p.m. – FEU vs St. Benilde

MANILA, Philippines - Nard Pinto fired nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as Arellano U pulled off a shock 67-66 victory over fancied NCAA champion San Beda to close in on a quarterfinal berth in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Cup Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Pinto, a sophomore out of Zamboanga City, took charge for the Chiefs’ fiery windup, hitting clutch baskets as the Legarda-based squad finally beat San Beda after losing all their eight face-offs in the last four NCAA seasons.

“The players made it happen and Nard (Pinto) is our go-to guy and the leader of this team and his effort today opened the door for us to get this win,” said Arellano U coach Koy Banal, who steered San Beda to the 2006 NCAA title before Frankie Lim took over.

The victory was the Chiefs’ fifth against two losses as they moved within a win from clinching the second of four quarterfinal berths in Group A paced by National U with an 8-0 mark.

The Lions fell to joint third with the idle Adamson Falcons at 3-2.

Rome dela Rosa and Baser Amer paced San Beda with 14 and 13 points, respectively, but the Mendiola-based school failed to draw a strong effort from Nigerian Ola Adeogun, who groped for form and finish with only eight points and six rebounds in only 15 minutes of action.

University of the East likewise inched closer to the quarters as it foiled Lyceum, 82-72, for a 5-2 slate.

The Warriors actually struggled from the line and fell by as many as 12 points in the third quarter but made a strong charge in the fourth quarter to fashion out the win.

“It’s all mental, missing free throws. I just really hate it seeing my players missing free throws,” said UE coach Boycie Zamar.

Lyceum fell to its fifth straight loss.