Games Saturday:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12:00 noon –- Perpetual vs Lyceum
3:00 p.m. –- CSB vs Letran
San Sebastian College erased an early 18-point deficit before hanging on in the closing minutes to prevail over Arellano University, 71-66, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 98 seniors basketball competition at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Friday.
Kenneth Villapando came off the bench and registered 12 points with his last and biggest basket coming from a clutch baseline drive in the last 15 seconds to create enough breathing room for the Stags.
San Sebastian improved its win-loss record to 5-6 at the eighth spot as it sent the Chiefs, which blew a big lead in the second quarter, to a 5-8 card.
The Stags made a telling 17-0 run in the second period to get back within one from a 14-32 deficit. San Sebastian head into halftime down, 33-37, before pouring it out in the second half.
"Inside our dugout during halftime, coach (Egay Macaraya) told us that we can win, we only need to work together," Villapando, who shot 5-of-7 from the field missing only two of his three triples, said.
"Coach Egay told us that our chance of making it to the Final Four is still in our hands. We just need to work hard for it," the fourth year forward said.
Alex Desoyo had 12 points while Itchie Altamirano also chipped in 12 markers including the crucial trey in the last 1:01 of the game that gave San Sebastian a 68-63 lead.
Arellano shaved its deficit to 66-68 courtesy of a quick two points from Cade Flores before Villapando brought it back to four with a strong drive to the basket.
Raymart Escobido split his charities in the last 4.5 seconds for the Stags, shooting for Altamirano who fouled out after committing an unsportsmanlike foul when he threw an elbow to the neck Nell Tolentino in a rebound play.
Tolentino missed both his foul shots on the other end and the Chiefs came out empty in their last possession as time expired.
Travis Mantua led Arellano with 15 points while Alex Doromal had 13 markers.
The Scores:
SAN SEBASTIAN (71) — Villapando 15, Desoyo 12, Altamirano 12, Yambing 7, Are 7, Shanoda 4, Una 3, Escobido 3, Aguilar 3, Calahat 2, Suico 2, Concha 1, Cosari 0.
ARELLANO (66) — Mantua 15, Doromal 13, Flores 8, Talampas 8, Tolentino 8, Mallari 5, Domingo 3, Oliva 2, Abastillas 2, Ongotan 2, Oftana 0, Sunga 0, Tan 0.
Quarters: 14-23, 33-37, 49-48, 71-66.
