San Sebastian stuns Perpetual

Games today:

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)

12 p.m. — Arellano vs Mapua 

2:30 p.m. — EAC vs Saint Benilde 

San Sebastian College pulled off another upset in Season 101 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament, stunning University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 62-61, Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Christian Ricio led the Stags with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists as they improved to a 3-7 win-loss record in Group A while snapping the Altas’ four-game winning streak.

Head coach Rob Labagala said they really wanted to make a statement by taking down Perpetual after their 82-81 victory over Letran College last 29 October.

“We want to go back-to-back because it’ll be part of our growth as a team and it’s a good thing we were able to get it,” Labagala said.

“I’d like to give credit to my assistant coaches. We really had a serious discussion on how to stop the Altas.”

San Sebastian held a slim one-point cushion, 52-51, with 6:23 left in the payoff period before Ricio and Ralph Gabat unloaded four straight points to extend the Stags’ lead to five, 56-51, with 5:20 left.

A free throw by John Abis with 1:41 left in the game cut the deficit to one, 58-59.

But Jhuniel dela Rama fired a booming triple with 2:02 on the clock to give San Sebastian a 62-58 lead.

JP Boral tried to fight back after draining his own triple with 40 seconds left in the game but that proved to be Perpetual’s final basket as the Stags escaped with the win.

Dela Rama had a double-double game for San Sebastian with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Ralph Gabat had nine points.

Patrick Sleat was the sole double-digit scorer for the Altas with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Altas remained on top of Group A despite absorbing their second loss in 10 games. 

In the first game, Letran College carved a convincing 85-71 victory over Jose Rizal University.