Red Lions hold back Chiefs, reclaim lead

Games tomorrow

12 noon – Letran vs Jose Rizal (jrs/srs)

4 p.m. – Lyceum vs Mapua (srs/jrs)

MANILA, Philippines - Baser Amer and Arthur dela Cruz came through in the clutch as San Beda survived a pesky Arellano U, 90-81, to reclaim the solo lead in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Amer and Dela Cruz fired 18 and 17 points, respectively, with the former making back-to-back baskets to keep the Chiefs at bay and the latter hitting four straight foul shots to help hand the Lions the solo lead on a 4-0 (win-loss) record.

Dela Cruz came back strong after missing their 84-68 win over Lyceum last Monday after his flagrant foul on Mapua’s Jeson Cantos was upgraded to a disqualifying foul and a one-game suspension.

Nigerian Ola Adeogun contributed 13 points but he fouled out with less than a minute to go after he was slapped his fifth and final foul on a double foul with Arellano U’s John Pinto.

It was the second time the 6-8 Adeogun fouled out of the game.

But Amer and Dela Cruz were there to save the day.

“I can’t say anything about Baser and Arthur, they keyed this win,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

The Lions also shut down the Chiefs in the final one-minute mark after their robust 18-point lead was sliced down to three points twice.

“We can’t do it without our defense,” said Fernandez.

Fil-Aussie Anthony Semerad nailed a three-pointer to give San Beda its biggest lead of the game, 56-38, late in the third period.

But Levi Hernandez and Giovanni Jalalon teamed up as Arellano U wheeled back into the fight, charging to within three twice, the last at 84-81, on a Pinto lay-up.