Stags take the fight out
of the Maroons
by
rick olivares
After this game, people
will have to take notice.
All-Filipino. No
legitimate center. The San Sebastian Golden Stags bagged a big fish when they
defeated favored University of the Philippines, 64-51, in the Filoil Flying V
Premier Cup.
With the score tied at
34-all at the halftime mark, the Stags dropped a 14-0 bomb to start the second
half to seize control of the match, 48-34 at the 5:51 mark. During the run,
second year Stags forward Jason David and point guard Ryan Costelo conspired
for all 14 points. Andrew Harris broke the dry spell with a put back that
helped ignite a 7-0 run for the Fighting Maroons to come within seven, 48-41,
with four minutes left in the third period. But Stags center Justin Mercado hit
a wide open triple to ease the pressure. Jerick Fabian drilled a triple with 23
seconds left in the period to give the Stags a 56-43 lead.
UP started off the fourth
and final period behind center Ibrahim Quattara and veteran forward Paul
Desiderio to once more come within seven, 56-49, with six to play. An offensive
foul by point guard Jun Manzo and a huge bucket by Michael Calisaan against
Noah Webb and Quattara who helped out, killed UP’s momentum.
San Sebastian held on for
the win to give them the pole position of Group B in the tournament at 6-1. UP
fell to 4-2.
“Jason is my secret
weapon,” bared SSCR head coach Edgar Macaraya of his prized sophomore player
who finished with 13 points, six assists, four rebounds, two steals, and one
block with no turnovers in 24 minutes of play. “Jason can play up to four
positons and his ability to do so helped us.”
Macaraya also added that
the defense on Manzo, Desiderio, and shooting guard Diego Dario blunted UP’s
high-octane offense. Although Dario scored 11 points, they were all in the
first half of play while Desiderio scored only two with Manzo unable to enter
the score sheet.
He also downplayed the
win as a statement given basketball observers overlooking them in favor of NCAA
defending champion San Beda and up and coming Lyceum of the Philippines
University. “We’re just working hard to see how far we will go,” said the
former San Sebastian star turned coach.
Quattara led UP with 14
points and 12 rebounds.
In other Filoil matches,
the Arellano University Chiefs won their third straight match; a 68-58 triumph
over reeling Mapua that is winless in seven starts. The Chiefs climbed to 3-4
and have to win their last match and hope that some of the top seeds drop a
game for them to have the chance of getting into the quarterfinals.
Arellano’s three veterans
– Kent Salado, Lervin Flores, and Zach Nicholls finally all played well to tow
their side to a badly needed win. The Chiefs led from start to finish with
their offense and defense holding the Cardinals at bay. Arellano posted
multiple double digit leads in the first half but after a Cedric Pelayo free
throw cut down a 10-point halftime lead to three, 41-38. With a chance to
overhaul the lead, Mapua shot themselves in the foot with back-to-back
three-point attempts that were both airballs. On the opposite end, Nicholls
made them pay with a dead-eye triple and a jumper for a 46-57 lead with four
minutes to play.
The Chiefs held them off
the rest of the way for the victory.
Salado led Arellano with
17 points while Flores added 10 points and 20 rebounds to go with two assists
and one block. Nicholls likewise added 10 markers.
For Mapua, Cedric Pelayo
led the way with 13 points while Andrew Estrella and Lawrence Victoria chipped
in 12 points each.
In
other matches, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets won their fourth straight game in the
Juniors division with a 70-62 victory over La Salle Greenhills. SJ Belangel top
scored for Ateneo with 18 points while forward Jason Credo chalked up his
second consecutive double double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
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