MANILA, Philippines – Arellano U leaned on a miraculous shot by John Pinto as it rallied from five points with a minute remaining and edged Lyceum, 76-75, to light its flickering Final Four hopes in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Thursday.
Down by a point and Lyceum's Cameroonian wingman Aziz Mbomiko turning the ball over with an inbound violation with 14 seconds to go, the Chiefs couldn't find a shot until Pinto launched a prayer that was answered as his jumper just inside the arc bounced up high before going in with 1.7 seconds to go.
Shane Ko unloaded a Hail Mary shot himself from past mid-court but hit only the board as time expired.
"Miracles do happen," said Arellano U coach Koy Banal, a devout Christian.
The Chiefs thus clinched their fourth win against eight losses that kept them in Final Four contention.
Big man Prince Caperal, a 20-year-old fourth year veteran, came through with a career game as he finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds while Pinto, a 22-year-old sophomore from Davao City, chipped in 15 points.
Pinto shone the brightest in the final 1.07 minutes when he scored four he capped with that game-winner that erased a five-point deficit.
Ko buried a triple that gave the Pirates a 75-70 lead that turned out their last as Pinto drained a long jumper, Kieth Agovida scored on a reverse and Pinto's basket that nailed the final coffin.
Mbomiko turned from hero to goat as he led Lyceum with 17 points only to turn the ball over with a travelling infraction on an inbound play, paving the way for that life-saving Pinto bucket.
The Pirates likewise fell to 4-8.
The scores:
Arellano (76) -- Caperal 25, Pinto 15, Agovida 11, Salcedo 8, Forrester 8, Hernandez 5, Margallo 4, Gumaru 0, Jalalon 0, Nicholls 0, Bangga 0, Serjue 0, Cadavis 0.
LPU (75) -- Mbomiko 17, Zamora 15, Ko 14, Baltazar 6, Francisco 6, Ambohot 6, Lesmoras 4, Lacastesantos 3, Azores 2, Mendoza 1, Taladua 0.
Quarters: 15-14, 31-31, 55-55, 76-75.