Huge fourth quarter propels San Beda Red Lions over a win against Defending Champs UST Growling Tigers

The repeat of last season's finals match-up did not fail to impress as the San Beda Red Lions scored a big come-from-behind win over the UST Growling Tigers, 74-68.

UST started strong as they built an 11-point lead early in the second quarter, 33-22. But San Beda uses that as fuel to the fire as they ignited a 13-0 run to steal the lead from the Tigers in the last 3 minutes of that quarter. However, Ingle Kaw took matters into his own hands and score a 4-0 personal run to end the half and saw his team led by five after 20 minutes of action.

UST once again got a double-digit lead after a Chris Cantonjos basket midway through the third quarter then it became a close call after that as both squads are exchanging buckets back and forth that saw the UST hangs on with a 5-point lead at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Fourth quarter came and San Beda went ballistic and outscored UST 21-7 as they bounced back from an opening game loss in the hands of the UE Red Lions last weekend. The Red Lions also out-rebounded the Tigers 16-7 in that fourth quarter alone.

Richie Melencio of San Beda took the spotlight and carried his team by scoring game-high 29 points. Former Finals MVP Shin Dela Cruz scored 19 to help the Red Lions get their first win in the league. 

The defending champions UST showed their team chemistry by dishing out 20 assists but it wasn't enough for the Tigers to take home the W. Allen Javier scored team-high 14 points while Ingle Kaw contributed 13, and Romel David and Lester Ong both with 10 for a losing cause. 

The scores:

SBU 77 - Melencio 29, Dela Cruz 19, Nabung 8, Racho 6, Madrid 5, Cristobal 3, Medina 3, Capistrano 1

UST 68 - Javier 14, Kaw 13, David 10, Ong 10, Del Rosario 7, Cantonjos 6, Roxas 6, Ang 2