THE San Sebastian Stags sustained a hot start until the end. With their outside shots and triples finding their mark, the Stags went on to blast the Letran Knights, 95-64, yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.
Jayson David banged 27 points and led two others who scored in double digits as the Stags remained in contention for a Final Four semifinal slot in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
The Stags, who converted 16 of 37 three-point attempts, climbed to a share of third spot with a similar 7-6 record with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers.
The Knights, who were led by Bong Quinto with 14, struggled as the Stags took a 17-7 lead in the last 2:51 of the first period.
Enzo Navarro and Michael Calisaan made this possible with their three-pointers and from there, the Stags finished the period with a 25-11 edge.
Another trey from Navarro at the start of the second period handed the Stags a 25-15 spread with 7:54 left.
Coach Egay Macaraya said they never expected their game with the Knights (7-7) to get this lopsided.
“I guess they gave up. Maaga sila bumigay,” said Macaraya.
Allyn Bulanadi and Calisaan hit 16 and 13 points, respectively, for the Stags.
Lyceum of the Philippines University outlasted Emilio Aguinaldo College, 86-74, to inch closer to an elimination-round sweep.
MJ Ayaay unloaded a team-best 15 points while adding nine rebounds even as Jaymar Perez and Jaycee Marcelino contributed 13 and 11, respectively, to help the Pirates’ stretch their win streak to 14, four wins from sweeping their way to the finals where they will also clinch a thrice-to-beat advantage.
LPU takes on San Sebastian on Friday, Letran on Oct. 6, Jose Rizal on Oct. 13 and defending champion San Beda on Oct. 19.
The Generals absorbed their eighth defeat against six wins.
In the junior division, the SSC Staglets leaned on defensive stops in the dying seconds from Lewis Pasamante and Romel Calahat to escape with a 67-66 triumph over the Letran Squires.
Pasamante, who top-scored with 21 points and Calahat kept Kiefer Cordero from shooting a triple and Kobe Monje from converting a followup as the clock winded down.
Alex Desoyo put the Staglets ahead when he went for a drive in the last 55.3 seconds.
The Staglets’ 7-6 record allowed them to stay in contention for the Final Four seat at fifth place. They are within reach of the Squires (8-6).
The scores:
San Sebastian 95—David 17, Bulanadi 16, Calisaan 13, Gayosa 9, Costelo 6, Navarro 6, Are 6, Capobres 4, Mercado 4, Calma 3, Ilagan 3, Baytan 3, Valdez 3, Baetiong 2, Quipse 0
Letran 64—Quinto 14, Balanza 13, Calvo 7, Mandreza 7, Taladua 4, Balagasay 3, Vacaro 3, Pascual 2, Caralipio 1, Bernabe 0
Quarterscores: 25-11; 45-38; 69-47; 95-64
Games tomorrow
(Filoil Arena, San Juan)
12 nn.- CSB vs Mapua (jrs)
2 p.m.- CSB vs Mapua (srs)
4 p.m.- San Beda vs AU (srs)
6 p.m.- San Beda vs AU (jrs)