The San Sebastian Stags now have good reasons to continue fighting for a slot in the Final Four semifinals of the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
And it came after an all-important win that the Golden Stags posted over the Lyceum Pirates, 73-71, last Tuesday.
Now that the Stags have improved their win-loss slate to 9-6, they have a big advantage going into their 4 p.m. meeting with the Mapua Cardinals today at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
The Stags are two full games ahead of the College of St. Benilde Blazers and the Cardinals and are at fourth spot.
For both the Cardinals and the Blazers, who share similar 7-8 records, each of their three games will be a battle for survival.
“Kahit pangit yung start namin, the boys showed character. We also showed composure nung last minute. ‘Yung win ay credit to the boys,” said Stags coach Egay Macaraya.
Earlier, the defending champion San Beda Red Lions will try to stay unbeaten after 17 games when they meet the Blazers at 2 p.m.
In the junior division, the La Salle Greenhills Greenies take on the San Beda Red Cubs at 10 a.m., and a win will push the Greenies to a share of no. 2 spot next to the Lyceum Junior Pirates.
The Red Cubs are in the solo lead, and at 15-1, have already secured the top seeding in the Final Four.
The Junior Pirates, who have a 10-6 record, seek to keep their grip of the no. 2 seeding.
The San Sebastian Staglets (8-7) battle the Malayan Red Robins at 12 nn.
The Stags had a slow start, falling behind by as much as 19 points, with Allyn Bulanadi scoring 10 of his 28 points in the final canto.
RK Ilagan added 11 markers, while JM Calma hauled down nine boards.
Lyceum saw their six-game winning streak snapped to drop to 12-4, but they are still in solo second. Peter Atencio