Stags outplay Bombers

Games Saturday:

(FilOil EcoOil Centre)

12:00 noon –- EAC vs Arellano

3:00 p.m. –- CSB vs San Beda

San Sebastian College outmuscled Jose Rizal University, 72-68, for its fourth win in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 98 seniors basketball competition at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Friday.

The Stags banked on a couple of defensive stops in the endgame to outlast the Heavy Bombers in their health and safety protocols-delayed pairing and improve to a 4-6 win-loss record.

Rhinwill Yambing came off the bench to deliver the decisive run midway in the fourth quarter while Rafael Are's quick hands denied JRU of any chances of a comeback in the waning seconds.

Yambing scored nine of the 19 points of San Sebastian in the payoff period including eight straight off back-to-back triples and a layup off a steal that put the Stags ahead, 66-60, with 4:39 left.

A split by Yambing brought San Sebastian back in front, 67-66, after JRU made six unanswered points.

After Heavy Bomber Joshua Guiab's short stab, Altamirano scored on a layup for a 69-68 Stags lead with 2:17 left. Are made up for losing the ball in San Sebastian's possession with a steal on the other end.

Raymart Escobido pushed the Stags' advantage to 71-68 in the last 4.1 seconds. With no timeout left, JRU had one last chance to salvage the game but a mental lapse by John Amores who was not looking at the inbound pass by Jonathan Medina turned the ball over as Escobido sealed the game with a split at the line.

Yambing finished with 17 points on 6-of-8 field goal shooting while Romel Calahat and Ian Suico added 12 and 10 markers, respectively, for San Sebastian, which will face the Heavy Bombers once again on 11 November for their second round rematch.

JRU remained at no. 5 spot but dropped to a 5-4 card.

Guiab led the Heavy Bombers with 16 points and 18 rebounds, Ry Dela Rosa got 15 points while Amores scored 12.

The Scores:

SAN SEBASTIAN (72) — Yambing 17, Calahat 12, Suico 10, Altamirano 7, Villapando 7, Are 6, Escobido 5, Una 2, Cosari 2, Concha 2, Sumoda 2, Paglinawan 0, Barroga 0.

JRU (68) — Guiab 16, Dela Rosa 15, Amores 12, Sy 5, Dionisio 5, Arenal 4, Medina 4, Celis 3, Tan 2, Abaoag 2, Gonzales 0, Miranda 0, Villarin 0, De Jesus 0, Joson 0.

Quarters: 12-22, 40-34, 53-57, 72-68.