San Sebastian, Fatima set up BBI U25 title clash

San Sebastian, Fatima set up BBI U25 title clash

by rick olivares

San Sebastian College-Recoletos and Our Lady of Fatima University underwent different challenges on the way to the Under-25 Division championship series of the sulit.ph BBI tournament at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

The Stags, now practically fielding a team minus their NCAA veterans had to sweat it past Technological Institute of the Philippines, 75-72, in the semi-finals. The OLFU Phoenix on the other hand had more or less an easier time in bowling over AMA Computer College in the other final four series, 82-67.

San Sebastian, with their main stars such Allyn Bulanadi, Alvin Capobres, and JM Calma now concentrating on D-League play, leaned on their rookies out of Assumption Montessori School of Cagayan De Oro, Milo Janao and Rommel Calahat who first showed their wares in the NBTC National Finals two years ago. However, it was the Stags’ homegrown point guard, Kean Baclaan who struck the killer blows for his side.

TIP looked like they were going to cruise to the championship game when they posted a 46-30 lead when Ximone Sandagon hit a free throw at the 7:24 mark of the third period.

The Stags came roaring back behind the shooting of Janao, Calahat, and Baclaan when they dropped a 20-9 bomb in the final minutes of the third period to come within a bucket, 55-53. Incidentally, all three came off the bench with the starters unable to get going.

It was Baclaan who foreshadowed his endgame heroics when he drilled a triple to make it 55-53 with 41 second remaining in the third period.

Come early fourth quarter, TIP seemed to weather the Stags’ second win when Cameroonian center Papa Ndiaye helped his side to a 64-59 lead; time down to 6:55. SSCR came storming back to notch the count at 64-all following a Janao triple at the 5:37 mark. 

The two teams battled through four deadlocks and two lead changes the rest of the way. 

Ndiaye who was TIP’s fount of strength turned from her to goat when he missed two free throws with two seconds left that could have broken a 72-all tie with 27 seconds left. Incredibly, TIP was able to grab the offensive rebound, but Jopet Soriano missed the putback which SSCR’s Klenn Viñas hauled down.

The Stags worked the clock. With Janao and Calahat closely guarded, Baclaan unleased a triple with five seconds left in the game clock from the left side of the arc that hit nothing but net.

TIP looked to send their match into overtime but Jayson Jimenez missed his triple attempt. Ndiaye grabbed the offensive rebound and with a chance to for an unconventional three-point play, he missed the first free throw. He also deliberately missed the second but TIP was unable to secure the rebound as SSCR celebrated for the hard fought win.

Janao led SSCR with 18 points while Calahat, playing forward, added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Baclaan 13 points. 

A disconsolate Ndiaye top scored with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Guilber Carurucan and Jopet Soriano each added 11 points to TIP’s effort. 

TIP played without their star forward Bryan Santos who sat out the game with an injury.

In the other BBI U25 semis match, OLFU jumped on AMA from the opening jump ball. The Phoenix led 67-40 after three periods of play before they emptied their bench. 

Denzel Gomez led OLFU with 14 points off the bench. Starters VJ Alarcon and Cas De Vera added 12 and 11 points respectively. 

Fran Asuncion led AMA with 12 points.

The title clash between OLFU and SSCR will be on Saturday, March 9, at 1pm at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.