College of Saint Benilde came just a basket short of defeating the defending champion San Beda Red Lions.
Carlo Lastimosa’s running drive before the buzzer failed to hit its mark and the Blazers fell 79-78 at the expense of the favored Red Lions in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
Playing close with the Mendiola-based squad for most of the game, CSB had a chance to complete its upset bid when rookie Baser Amer missed two freethrows with 8.9 seconds left. Juan Taha grabbed the rebound and gave the ball to Lastimosa with the chance to win it.
The reigning Rookie of the Year drove to the right side then hit a tough one-hander off Kyle Pascual but missed and the Blazers fell to 1-3 to join Arellano in a tie for seventh place. San Beda improved to a perfect 4-0 record to tie San Sebastian for the lead.
Lastimosa had 19 points, six rebounds and two assists while Jonathan Grey added 13 points and six boards in a losing effort.
The Blazers had plenty of chances to either tie the score or take the lead but San Beda, despite a disappointing performance, capitalized on every mistake to even take a 77-71 lead with over three minutes to go. But the Taft-based squad made a last ditch effort with Grey eventually pulling them within a point after putting back Lastimosa’s miss with 13 ticks left.
Amer, who torched St Benilde for all 11 points in the fourth, was sent to the foul line on the ensuing play and muffed both charities.
Taha had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists and Luis Sinco added 10 points. Sinco had eight points in the second period as the Blazers was within 41-38 at the half.
St Benilde eventually took the lead at 69-67 after Mark Romero’s triple with 6:02 before Amer took charge in the payoff period.
Kyle Pascual had 16 points and seven rebounds to lead San Beda. Garvo Lanete scored 12 markers.
Meanwhile, La Salle Greenhills’ unbeaten run came to an end at the expense of the three-peat seeking San Beda Red Cubs, 95-79.
Mario Bonleon scored 21 points and grabbed seven boards but the Greenies lost steam in the third as the Red Cubs sizzled to a 71-55 lead.
LSGH fell to 4-1 while San Beda took the top spot with a perfect 4-0 slate.
Box scores:
Juniors
SAN BEDA 95 – Abatayo 20, Tolentino 19, Abarcar 19, Nazareno 13, Tongco 6, Patenio 6, dela Costa 5, Munsayac 3, Lunas 2, Oleodo 2, Miranda 0, Bonsubre 0, Macayapag 0, Tee 0.
LSGH 79 – Bonleon 21, Laigo 18, Vito 12, Ramilo 9, Yap 6, Torres 4, Mercado 3, Sta Clara 2, Sy 2, Paras 2, Barrera 0.
Quarters: 23-25; 42-41; 71-55; 95-79.
Seniors
SAN BEDA 79 – Pascual K. 16, Lanete 12, Amer 11, Semerad 8, Caram 8, Marcelo 7, Pascual J. 7, dela Rosa 5, Semerad 3, Sorela 2, Lim 0, Villahermosa 0, Pontejos 0.
ST BENILDE 78 – Lastimosa 19, Grey 13, Taha 11, Sinco 10, McCoy 8, Romero 6, de la paz 5, Altamirano 4, Deles 2, Tan 0.
Quarters: 21-16; 41-38; 60-57; 79-78.
