Shin Dela Cruz's Mamba Mentality Propels San Beda in a Come-From-Behind win over San Sebastian

Old Rivals from the NCAA faced off for the last time in the Pinoyliga Cup Semifinals and the win is for anyone to bag until the final possession.

San Beda Red Lions outlasted the San Sebastian Golden Stags 79-76 in an OT Thriller semi-finals game.

San Beda's main guys Shin Dela Cruz and Richie Melencio gave their all, both playing over 40 mins and with a stellar game. Shin Dela Cruz led the offense scoring 28 big points and Melencio did all the work on the other side grabbing 17 rebounds.

It was a nick-and-tuck affair in the first half but San Sebastian went ballistic in the 3rd quarter to make a 1-point half-time lead balloon to 15 after 30 minutes of action.

San Sebastian led as much as 17 early in the 4th quarter but the Bedans flipped the switch on just in time to outscored the Golden Stags 25-10 in the final quarter while limiting them to only 30% from the field.

Shintaro became the take-over man for San Beda and put the Red Lions on his back in that fourth-quarter run where he scored 14 of his 28 points of the game.

Norman Gonzales then sinks a three to tie the game up to 73 with 40 seconds left which eventually forces the game into overtime.

In the last minute of the overtime, SSC-R had a chance to make it a three-point lead for their side in a 3-vs-1 fastbreak but they missed the shot and failed to capitalize. Mark Macapagal then pulled up from a good three-point shot attempt but its way left and missed it too. San Beda got the rebound and quickly passes it to hurting Richie Melencio who is already in their front court for an easy two that gave them the lead.

Macapagal splashes another three in the next possession but missed it too then Arden Guiyab also misses a good lay-up attempt in their second serving.

Shin Dela Cruz iced the game with two free throws.

All-Stars Starters Mark Macapagal and Arden Guiyab led the way for the Stags, Macapagal scoring 15 points and Guiyab performing a double-double with 8 offensive boards in his 18 rebounds.

SBU 79- Dela Cruz 28, R. Dela Cruz 21, Gonzales 14, Melencio 11, Weber 3, Capistrano 2
SSC-R 76 - Ferrer 15, Macapagal 15, Gonzales 11, Guiyab 11, Javier 11, Vinuya 7, Reguera 6