Hermida buzzer-beater dooms Knights in OT

Borgie Hermida hit a buzzer-beater in overtime as San Beda escaped with a pulsating 65-63 victory over Letran yesterday to clinch the top seeding in the Final Four and send four teams into a wild chase for the No. 2 spot in the semis in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Hermida, who missed a potential game-winning foul shot in regulation, received a pass from Pong Escobal, dribbled once just past the midcourt and banked in a driving floater as time expired to formalize the Lions’ claim on the No. 1 spot with an 11-3 (win-loss) slate. San Beda needs to win only once for a third straight finals appearance.

“Borgie struggled in the first half, I had to yell at him a couple of times and I had to chew him in the dugout. But he delivered,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

“I got to give it to him for extending a lot of effort, I’m so happy he made that exciting shot at the buzzer,” Lim said.

The setback dropped Letran into a four-way tie for second with San Sebastian, Mapua and Jose Rizal on 9-5 records, paving the way for a series of playoffs for the No. 2 seeding and the other twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four.

San Sebastian takes on Jose Rizal while Letran collides with Mapua on Monday with the winners clashing for the second berth.

“It’s nice to be on top. We now have more time to prepare for our next opponent whoever it may be. We’ll have a good few days rest. I would take a day off myself tomorrow (today),” said Lim.

The Lions pulled off the win without Nigerian behemoth Sam Ekwe, who was benched majority of the second half and in OT for below par performance. He finished with four points.

“In the first half he wasn’t playing well. In the third quarter I gave him a chance again but he didn’t deliver that much so I stuck with Dave (Mercelo),” said Lim.

Earlier, the Jose Rizal U Pep Squad put up a near-flawless performance as it snatched this year’s NCAA cheerleading competition crown with a runaway score of 198.8 points.

Mapua finished a far second with 190.1 and St. Benilde third with 188.3.

The reigning three-peat champion Perpetual Help finished only fifth with 172.8.