Altas Stun Red Lions

Perpetual Help ended seven years of futility against defending champion San Beda in thrilling fashion last night as the Altas came away with an epic 88-87 overtime win  in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament before a raucous crowd at the Filoil Flying V Arena.

In an endgame to remember, the Altas kept their poise in the extra period even after the Red Lions were galvanized by a buzzer-beating length-of-the-court heave from Baser Amer to force overtime at 72-all.

Given up for dead after Earl Thompson’s free throws made it a three-point lead with nine tenths of a second left in regulation, Amer took one dribble and buried a miracle of a shot from the three-point line on the other side of the court, sending the San Beda faithful into delirium.

But the Altas refused to waver in overtime, coming up with defensive gems in the last 35 seconds while cashing in on their chances for their first win over the Lions since August 2005.

The win also snapped San Beda’s 12-game winning run that started after the loss to Jose Rizal U last season.

“We wanted to catch a big fish and this was it,” Perpetual Help coach Aric Del Rosario said, after the Altas seized solo second by rising to 3-1.

The Altas rallied from four points down in the last 35 seconds of overtime with Thompson, who was celebrating his 19th birthday, hitting two free throws and Harold Arboleda tying the game with a reverse layup.

A steal off an inbound pass led to a layup by Jett Vidal who swung the lead back to the Altas, 86-84. While Vidal made the basket, Thompson was fouled, leading to two charities for 88-84.

Ryusei Koga drilled an inconsequential triple at the buzzer.

source: Cedelf P. Tupas, PDI