Stags Tie Lions For NCAA Lead

This time San Sebastian College turned to its ‘‘Big D’’ to down the Mapua Cardinals, 68-49, and grab a piece of the lead in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

The defending champions threw the Cardinals’ offense into disarray as they applied an air-tight defense in the fourth that saw them pull away from what started to be a close contest to extend their winning run to four and join San Beda College on top with similar 4-0 cards.

"We struggled for three quarters because of the long break. Nagmamadali kami at gigil sa offense. Good thing we played a very good defense," said SSC mentor Ato Agustin.

The Stags built a huge defensive wall in the fourth quarter, limiting the Cardinals to only 2-of-11 shooting from the field. That allowed the Stags to turn a slim 47-45 third quarter lead into an 18-point lead, 68-49, which proved to be the final score.

The Stags outscored the Cardinals in the fourth, 21-4, through the efforts of the energetic Calvin Abueva and sophomore Ronald Pascual.

In the first game, Jose Rizal University survived a woeful shooting in the payoff period to beat College of St. Benilde, 74- 65, and extend its winning run to four in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament on Friday at The Arena in San Juan.

The Heavy Bombers were held to only three field goals in the fourth quarter but good thing they had enough cushion to keep their streak going and hike their record to 4-1 for solo third.

"We struggled in our offense," said JRU mentor Vergel Meneses after his squad shot a dismal 23-of-68 (38 percent) shooting from the field.

After taking a slim 62-55 lead with 7:01 left, the Bombers scored only one field goal and had it not been for their 8-of-10 free throws in that stretch, the result could have been different.

The loss negated the superb performance of CSB's Carlo Lastimosa, nephew of PBA star Jojo Lastimosa, who dropped a team-high 19 points.

In junior action, the Jose Rizal Light Bombers made it a double celebration by edging the La Salle Greenies in overtime, 92-89, for their third victory in five outings. The Mapua Red Robins likewise escaped a close game with a 75-72 triumph over the San Sebastian Staglets.

Meanwhile, the Management Commitee forfeited the San Beda Red Cubs' 86-71 win over the Letran Squires on Wednesday after one of their players wore a wrong uniform.

ManCom handed down the verdict on Friday, a day after commissioner Aric Del Rosaro called the attention of the ManCom concerning Baser Amer's wrong uniform in that game, which did not bear the logo of one of the league’s sponsors. The forfeiture thus dealt the defending champions their first loss in four games.

The scores
First Game
JOSE RIZAL 74 — Kabigting 14, Bulangis 13, Etame 12, Almario 8, Njei 5, Lopez 5, Montemayor 5, Matute 4, Hayes 4, Apinan 2, Badua 0
ST. BENILDE 65 — Lastimosa 19, De Guzman 14, Del Paz 11, Abolucion 7, Mccoy 6, Wong 3, Tan 3, Argamino 2, Sinco 0, Nayve 0, Amin 0, Manalac 0
Quarters: 18-16; 36-33; 56-49; 74-65.

Second Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 68 — Abueva 18, Pascual 17, Bulawan 12, Raymundo 8, Semira 4, del Rio 4, Gatchalian 3, Sangalang 2, Gorospe 0, Dela Cruz 0, Maconocido 0
MAPUA 49 — Cornejo 10, Sarangay 8, Stevens7, Parala 6, Pascual 5, Maniego 3, Ranises 1, Cabrera 0, Acosta 0
Quarters: 20-18, 35-31, 47-45, 68-49

Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin