(Brianna Obach / FCF)

Just when the defending champs would fall like a house of cards, one of its players proved to be its most valuable.

After seeing a 24-point lead trimmed down to only one coming in the waning minutes of the game, king Lion Baser Amer threw ten of his game high 23 points as San Beda College chomped University of Perpetual Help, 72-65, to grab solo second place at 6-1 in the NCAA seniors’ basketball tourney at The Arena in San Juan on Saturday.

Opening the game by scoring eight points off dribble drives in the first quarter, Amer regained his scoring touch in the fourth quarter by firing three outside shots, including a 25-footer at the 3:24 mark of the game.

With his pivotal outside bombs, the Lions regained a manageable 66-61 lead after getting a scare from the Altas, who unleashed a 15-2 blast early in the fourth sparked by two daring three-pointers by reserve point guard Joel Jolangcob.

Coming in the final five minutes, Altas forward Nosa Omorogbe scored a three-point play, with a hard drive against Anthony Semerad, to inch closer to San Beda, 57-58.

After an 18-foot jumper by Amer, Altas hotshot Juneric Baloria swished two free throws as the Altas came within one again, 59-60.

Then, Amer unleashed two treys which was replied by hard-earned dribble drives by Omorogbe.

Leading 66-61 in the last three minutes, the Lions slowed the tempo down as two free throws from Rome de la Rosa and a putback by Arthur de la Cruz brought the lead to a comfortable margin, 70-62, as the Altas lost gas in the endgame reminiscent to their previous defeat at the hands of San Sebastian College.

“Baser will always step up anytime anyday, but he still have to improve his defense. He did stop Baloria in the fourth so credit [goes] to him and Koga,” commented San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez through NCAA.org.ph.

Aside from Amer, Koga added 14 points, which included a perfect four-for-four from the three-point line, for the Lions.

The Altas, now dropping to 5-2 for solo third place, was led by Omorogbe who scored 21 points on top of seven rebounds.