OLA Adeogun posted a double-double and hit the go-ahead basket as San Beda defeated Letran in double overtime, 99-96, on Saturday in an intense match to start off its Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup campaign at The Arena in San Juan.
Adeogun contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds, hitting a putback with 1:08 left in the second overtime that gave the lead to the Red Lions for good.
Baser Amer led all scorers with 28 points, while Art Dela Cruz had 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Red Lions erased a 15-point third quarter lead to force overtime and win a rematch of the NCAA Season 89 finals.
San Beda also took advantage after Letran’s Mark Cruz, Ford Ruaya, Rey Nambatac, Jamil Gabawan, and Kevin Racal fouling out one after another in the late stages of the fourth quarter and overtime periods.
Still, the Red Lions had to work for the victory as Adeogun converted on a follow-up for a 97-95 advantage. Daryl Singontiko split his two free throws that would have tied the game for Letran, and Dela Cruz converted two free throws with 19.5 seconds left to settle the score.
The Knights failed to protect a 59-44 lead in the third period. They also needed a rousing fightback in the first half after a slow 12-1 start by outscoring the Red Lions, 28-15, in the second quarter for a 48-39 halftime advantage.
“Letran really fought hard today,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. “They really played with heart. We are just lucky that we won. They got into foul trouble and we are happy that we came out with the win.”
Fernandez also rued San Beda’s defense giving up nearly a hundred points in the game.
“A win is a win. We need a lot of things to check especially on defense,” Fernandez said.
Racal scored off a San Beda turnover with 14.2 seconds in regulation to force overtime. He also hit two free throws to once again forge a deadlock with 14.6 ticks in the first extra period. Racal, however, fouled out in the 2:06-mark of the second overtime, leaving Letran with limited offensive options.
The two rivals fought in an intense duel as a handful of Letran fans even pelted the court in the first overtime to protest a decision by a referee.
The scores:
San Beda (99) – Amer 28, Dela Cruz 21, Adeogun 13, A. Semerad 8, Sara 7, Pascual 6, Abarcar 6, Ludovice 3, Cabanag 2, Mendoza 2, Mocon 2, Koga 1, D. Semerad 0, Tongco 0, Estrada 0.
Letran (96) – Cruz 18, Ruaya 12, Nambatac 11, Gabawan 11, Racal 9, Publico 8, Quinto 7, Luib 6, Saldua 4, Singontiko 4, Dela Pena 4, Apreku 2, Castro 0, Pantin 0, Po 0.
Quarterscores: 24-20; 39-48; 52-62; 78-78; 91-91; 99-96.
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