San Beda Red Lions logo

NCAA 2015 News: San Beda College Red Lions forced a do-or-die Game 3 in the Finals of NCAA Season 91 Men’s Basketball after slipping past Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, 68-61, this Tuesday at the SM MOA Arena in Pasay. San Beda survived a near sweep in Game 2 as Ola Adeogun powered the Lions with his 14 baskets.

The Red Lions rebounded from a shocking Game 1 loss from the feisty Knights, 90-94, and are now on-track to achieving a record 6-straight championships for San Beda.

For this game, San Beda led for most of Game 2 leading by as much as 13 points in the second quarter. Letran rallied late to halt the momentum of San Beda as they trailed until the final quarter when they tied the game 52-All courtesy of Mcjour Luib’s trey.

Kevin Racal converted a breakaway layup that pushed the Knights ahead 54-52, but San Beda answered back with a 6-0 blast and never looked back to steal the Game 2 victory. Letran had a chance to win the ballgame, but Rey Nambatac’s missed several charities that spelled the eventual doom of the Knights.

Javee Mocon and star Baser Amer played hero ball for San Beda in the dying minutes to secure the much needed win for the Red Lions. Mocon finished with 13 markers and 8 boards, while outgoing veteran Amer made 9 baskets, 11 caroms and 4 assists.

Mark Cruz led the losing cause of Letran with his 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 dishes and 4 steals.

The critical Game 2 Finals drew 17,588 fans as the MOA Arena overflowed with red and blue colors. Interestingly, Cruz got into an endgame altercation with a San Beda heckler after the latter spew invectives over the dimunitive guard. Cooler heads prevailed as Letran staff whisked Cruz away from the fans.

The Red Lions are gunning for a historic sixth-straight NCAA championship, while the Knights are on track at cracking the elusive crown after fifty years when it was last crowned as NCAA kings.

San Beda and Letran will battle next for the winner-take-all Game 3 NCAA Finals on Thursday October 29.