The Squires, runners up to last year’s champions the San Beda Red Cubs, had all the chance to snare the win after knotting the count at 83-all on a fouls hot apiece by Mc Jour Luib and Mark Cruz, younger brother of Coca-Cola standout Marvin Cruz, with less than two minutes to go.
Letran, however, couldn’t progress from there while finding no answer to Pante, who unleashed the killer blows.
Luib and Cruz ended up leading the Muralla-based dribblers with 18 and 15 points, respectively.
In the other game, San Beda bucked food poisoning that struck majority of its players as it downed Jose Rizal, 89-71, to jumpstart its back-to-back title bid.
"It's not an excuse, but 10 of my players just got out of the hospital because of food poisoning," said San Beda coach Brit Reroma.
The scores:
First Game (Jrs.)
San Sebastian 89 - Pante 28, Jumao-as 27, Vitug 12, Leyva 6, Velasco 6, Magno 5, Vergara 5, Macasaet 0, Pascual 0, Sapalo 0, Balid 0, Escalambre 0, Soriano 0
Letran 83 - Luib 18, Cruz 15, Nambatac 14, Cudal 13, Villanueva 8, Serafica 7, Catipay 5, Capinding 3, Rivota 0 Quarterscores: 25-20; 43-42; 66-64; 89-83
Second Game (Jrs.)
San Beda 89 - Abatayo 21, Do. Nazareno 13, Gotladera 12, Da. Nazareno 10, Amer 9, Javier 8, Chavez 8, Abarcar 6, Miranda 2, Munsayac 0, Babilonia 0, Malapitan 0, Colmenar 0
Jose Rizal 71 - Dela paz 23, Oliveria 14, Barranco 12, Garcia 11, Tamayo 6, Fegidero 5, Vasquez 0, Rosales 0, Montenegro 0, Fernandez 0
Quarterscores: 28-12; 40-38; 65-53; 89-71
Stags survive Knights' late rally, Red Lions defuse Heavy Bombers
by NCAA Press Release
Date posted: Sun, Jun 27, 2010, 12:00 am
San Sebastian went to its defense when its offense sputtered as it turned back a hard-fighting Letran, 59-53, yesterday to jumpstart its title-retention campaign in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
With last year’s Finals MVP Jimbo Aquino already out, the Stags had a hard time finding their rhythm but made it up by bludgeoning the Knights with their trademark tough defense that won them the title over the San Beda Lions last year.
“We committed a lot of turnovers and we missed a lot of shots,” said San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin, referring to their atrocious 21-of-57 clip and 24 turnovers, in Filipino.
“I don’t mind if we play like this on offense as long as we play tough defense,” he added.
Ronald Pascual showed his readiness to take over the spot left by Aquino as he poured in a game-high 15 points including 13 in the third quarter when the Stags started to turn the tables around in their favor after trailing after the break, 27-30.
Calvin Abueva came through as expected with 13 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, an assist and the hustle that were enough to help save the day for the San Sebastian, which is seeking to become the 21st team to host and win the senior basketball title at the same time.
Coming in with identical thin, muscled bodies and Mohawk hairdos, the Knights made life difficult for the Stags by playing full-court man-to-man from start to finish.
But Letran couldn’t get the job the done on the offensive end as it thoroughly missed the services of the prolific duo of RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra, who already graduated and is now with Smart Gilas Pilipinas, and Kevin Alas, who hurt a hamstring in Friday’s practice and would sit out at least two weeks.
Earlier, a parade of entertaining numbers from top celebrities Kyla, Billy Joe Crawford, Jay-R and KC Montero among others ushered in the brand new season.
League president Fr. Anthony Morillo, OAR, and Management Committee chair Frank Gusi along with 2008 Bar topnotcher Judy Lardizzabal of host San Sebastian ushered in the season with a theme “Youth Speaks@86: Empowerment, Leadership and Nationalism.”
In the other game, last year’s losing finalist San Beda whipped up a third quarter storm as it smashed Jose Rizal, 68-52, to likewise boost its title campaign.
The scores:
First Game (Srs.)
San Sebastian 59 - Pascual 15, Abueva 13, Sangalang 9, Raymundo 8, Bulawan 8, del Rio 4, Maconocido 2, Gorospe 0, dela Cruz 0, Semira 0, Gatchalian 0
Letran 53 - Taplah 11, Belencion 11, Cortes 9, Dysam 8, Espiritu 5, Alas 4, Belorio 2, Almazan 2, Pantin 1, Rodil 0, Ang 0
Quarterscores: 18-14; 27-30; 47-40; 59-53
Second Game (Srs.)
San Beda 68 - Lanete 17, Hermida 15, dela Rosa 9, Marcelo 7, Caram 5, A. Semerad 4, Pascual 4, Mendoza 4, Daniel 3, D. Semerad 0, Pascual 0, Lim 0
JRU 52 - Lopez 9, Hayes 9, Etame 8, Almario 6, Njei 6, Matute 6, Montemayor 4, Badua 2, Kabigting 2, Duncil 0, Bulangis 0
Quarterscores: 14-6; 32-28; 53-35; 68-52
