San Beda University got a huge challenge from old rival San Sebastian College-Recoletos, but still emerged on top with an 82-79 overtime victory in NCAA Season 98 on Sunday.
Damie Cuntapay scored 16 while James Kwekuteye had 14 markers, seven rebounds, and four assists to lead the Red Lions.
Tony Ynot added 13 points and six assists while JB Bahio had a double-double with 11 points and 16 big rebounds.
San Beda earned its third win in a row to improve to 9-4 while San Sebastian dropped to 5-7.
It was San Beda all the way for most of the game but despite ending the third frame with a 63-52 cushion, the Red Lions could not put it away with San Sebastian threatening with a late comeback.
Three straight triples from Rhinwill Yambing and Ichie Altamirano allowed the Stags to close in to within 70-66 halfway through the fourth. Rommel Calahat also had a stretch of five straight points, 74-71, before they inched even closer on an Altamirano layup, 76-74.
Paeng Are then came up with a huge play as he went coast-to-coast for a layup with 3.8 seconds left that eventually forced the game into overtime
But San Beda veterans Bahio and Peter Alfaro took over in the extra period before Jessie Sumoda gave the Stags some hope, 81-79.
Altamirano had the chance to again tie the game but he missed out on his last triple.
San Beda got off to a hot start, opening the game with a 9-0 run led by Cuntapay before Yambing sizzled for a personal 7-0 run to pull the Stags to within six, 26-20.
But a 16-10 closing run saw San Beda enjoy a 43-32 halftime lead with Kwekuteye and Ynot also helping the cause in that stretch.
Yambing led San Sebastian with 17 points while Calahat had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
The scores:
San Beda 82 - Cuntapay 16, Kwekuteye 14, Ynot 13, Bahio 11, Alfaro 5, Andrada 5, Cortez 5, Cometa 4, Sanchez 3, Jopia 2, Visser 2, Payosing 2, Tagala 0.
San Sebastian 79 - Yambing 17, Calahat 14, Sumoda 10, Desoyo 8, Villapando 8, Suico 6, Altamirano 5, Are 4, Una 3, Escobido 2, Shanoda 2, Cosari 0, Aguilar 0.
Quarters: 21-11, 43-32, 63-52, 76-76, 82-79 (OT).
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
