Raffy Dela Peña | FCF
San Sebastian College nearly unraveled in the end game and failed in experimenting with their rotation by allowing season hosts Jose Rizal University to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter but held on to an 88-81 result in Wednesday’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 90 seniors basketball action at The Arena in San Juan City.
The sophomore swingman Perez posted a career-high 29 points with 10 rebounds, while Bradwyn Guinto compiled 14 points and 12 rebounds for Baste.
“Sometimes you have to try your other players because we want to give them the opportunity. But again, it’s my call [and] it’s my mistake that it has to go through that, but in the end these guys went for the win,” admitted third-year San Sebastian head coach Topex Robinson of his gaffe following the win, which propels the Stags to a momentary taste of the lead atop the standings with an immaculate 2-0 mark.
Philip Paniamogan, who was instrumental in overturning a 28-point deficit midway through the third period to bring the Bombers within seven in the last 3:55 of the ballgame, finished with a team-high 21 points. Tey Teodoro contributed 17, while Jaycee Asuncion had 13.
Raffy Dela Peña | FCF
On the other hand, Emilio Aguinaldo College produced a balanced attack led by co-captains Joko Tayongtong and Jack Arquero to pull off an 81-72 result over De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the first game.
Both Tayongtong and Arquero each posted 14, veteran guard Jan Jamon and ex-EAC-ICA Brigadier Ariel Aguilar adding 13 apiece, while Cedric Noube Happi challenged the reed-thin Benilde frontline and succeeded in scoring 12 points with 15 rebounds, and three blocked shots.
The Generals held their own in the final 12 minutes of the match, holding the Benilde five to just one field goal in the last two minutes of the third period to build a commanding 12 point advantage entering the game’s final stages.
“Excited sila [players] to show their worth [in today’s game]. We’ve been practicing this system [we’re running] for three months since our summer camp started,” EAC head coach Gerry Esplana said.
Fons Saavedra scored a career-high of 20 after making all but one of his nine shots with eight rebounds, followed by Mark Romero’s 14 points and 14 rebounds in the loss for the Blazers.
