Stags hold off EAC's endgame rally for 6th straight win

Stags hold off EAC’s endgame rally for 6^th straight win

by rick olivares

A funny thing happened to another San Sebastian Stags victory.

They posted a 21-point lead, 41-20 after a spectacular slam dunk by Ronald Pascual at the 1:24 mark of the second quarter, then turned over the eight times in the third quarter to get Emilio Aguinaldo College back in the game, before finishing with steely resolve 77-70.

The win put Topex Robinson’s Stags at 6-0 in Season 87 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the San Juan Arena to keep pace with nemesis San Beda who routed Letran 77-62 last Monday.

“Whether it’s a close win or a blowout, the important thing is we got a win,” said Robinson who admitted that he expected the team to come out sluggish after nine days of relative inactivity due to the poor weather that left their gym floor slippery because of the moisture. “Na-injure nga si Lester dela Cruz that’s why we spent much time doing film viewing instead of real scrimmages,” related Robinson.

Getting another monster performance from their Big Three of Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, and Ronald Pascual who combined for 51 points and 23 rebounds (the three are also in the top five for the MVP voting), the Stags pounded the Generals with in your face man-to-man defense and a relentless uptempo game.

Abueva, who missed on a double double for the first time this season, nearly scored on a dunk with three Generals all over him. “The Beast” as Abueva is nicknamed commented that the team was just happy to be on the floor, “Gigil kami,” said Abueva who later led the bench in cheering after Pascual’s “elevation elevation” flush.

With a 43-26 lead after two quarters, Robinson inserted his second unit, “to give them playing time.” But the turnovers emboldened EAC who found a fount of points behind Jan Jamon, Joshua Torralba, and Milan Vargas who led the late charge that saw them knock on San Sebastian’s door.

Torralba’s layup at the end of the third quarter put EAC at a 58-46 deficit. A 22-12 burst by the Generals capped by two free throws from Torralba put them a deuce behind at 70-68 with 1:28 to play.

But instead of folding, the Stags’ reached deep into their well of experience to force Jamon into two costly turnovers that last year’s runners-up parlayed into a 7-2 finishing kick. Pascual scored on a dunk off a fastbreak while Abueva and Jovit dela Cruz added three and two free throws respectively. “Sa amin,” noted Abueva of his team, “walang sisihan. Tulungan lang. Kailangan yun para magka-kumpyansa yung mga bagong player.”

The win was San Sebastian’s closest since their opening day 74-67 victory over Jose Rizal University.

During the Stags’ early onslaught, Claude Cubo kept the 2-4 Generals in the game with 11 first half points. Cubo finished with 16 along with Torralba and Jamon.