THE San Sebastian College Stags gave new coach Egay Macaraya a fitting debut, holding off the College of St. Benilde Blazers, 54-49, Sunday in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
Jerick Fabian led the Stags with 12 points, while Michael Calisaan and Regile Ilagan provided 8 apiece for the Stags, who squandered a 12-point spread in the final period due to fatigue.
But defensive stops in the final minute allowed the Stags to keep their five-point advantage until the end.
Meanwhile, the University of Perpetual Help Altas, playing without big man Akhuetie Bright and mainstay Gerald Ylagan, fell to the Arellano University Chiefs, who escaped with an 83-78 triumph.
Zach Nichols and Kent Salado provided the answers in the last 1:21 as the Chiefs finally pulled away decisively, joining opening-day winners San Beda Red Lions and the Mapua Cardinals in the early lead.
The Altas, whose setback spoiled the debut of Jimwell Gican as coach, played inspired basketball even with Bright out for two weeks because of an MCL injury on his right knee, and Ylagan serving out a suspension imposed on him following a fight-marred game with the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals last season.
The two teams kept matters close with 13 lead changes, until Nichols fired a triple in the last 2:26, and 6’5” Lervin Flores forced a turnover with his rebound off a pair of misses by the Altas.
Salado then drove past Nigerian big man Prince Eze in the remaining 1:21, and the Chiefs went on to enjoy an 82-76 edge in the remaining time.
“Ang hirap ng first win. But na lang at nakuha namin this early,” said Chiefs coach Jerry Codinera.
Meanwhile, the action in the junior division starts today, with the defending champion San Beda Red Cubs battling the Letran Squires at 10:45 a.m., and last year’s finalist Arellano meeting the Perpetual Help Junior Altas at 12:30 p.m.
Junior Games Today (The Arena in San Juan)
9 a.m. Mapua vs JRU
10:45 a.m. San Beda vs Letran
12:30 p.m. Perpetual Help vs Arellano
2:15 p.m. San Sebastian vs CSB
4 p.m. EAC vs LPU