(FCF File Photo / Martin San Diego)
(UPDATED June 22, 8:54 pm) For the second straight game, the “no-name” Stags once again put up a feisty fight to the finish. But compared to their first outing, they wouldn’t go down in defeat.
San Sebastian College moved up to .500 on Thursday, after narrowly escaping the clutches of an upstart Arellano University, 78-76, in their NCAA Season 89 first round showdown at The Arena in San Juan City.
John Ortuoste, who came out of the Stags’ storied juniors program during the Ryan Buenafe/Arvie Bringas era, carried his team for the second straight game and tallied 12 of his career-high 28 points in the final period. Australian recruit Bradwyn Guinto continued his steady play, manning the paint with a statline of 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Leo De Vera, who did most of his damage on the defensive end throughout the ballgame, finished with 15 points.
“We know that Arellano has a good system with Coach Koy Banal and we just tried to outwork them,” said San Sebastian head coach Topex Robinson following their bounce back win.
“It’s just another challenge for us.”
James Forrester, who missed the tail end of the Chiefs’ summer league campaign due to a meniscus tear on his knee, made a surprise return to the lineup ahead of schedule to finish with six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
Post players Levi Hernandez and Prince Caperal had 11 points apiece in the loss.
Altas cut down Generals in lopsided showdown
In the second game, last year’s final four contender Perpetual Help routed the Emilio Aguinaldo College, 69-49, in their debut this season and the most lopsided game so far in the tournament.
Nick Omorogbe and Earl Thompson led the Altas in scoring with 14 points apiece while Harold Arboleda piled the stat sheet with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists.
After a nip-and-tuck first quarter affair, the Altas broke out in the second quarter by clogging the Generals’ passing lane, as the Taft-based squad turned the ball over 12 times and issued only one assist in the first half.
The Generals, led by Jolas Paguia with 12 points and 11 rebounds, collected 21 turnovers and dished out only six assists in the game.
“Teamwork ang tema namin for this year… lahat nagpapasahan, walang buwaya,” commented Thompson after the game. (With reports from Diego de la Paz and Merck Maguddayao)
BOX SCORES
First game
SAN SEBASTIAN (78): Ortuoste 28, De Vera 15, Dela Cruz 10, Guinto 10, Perez 10, Gusi 3, Rebollos 1, Tano 1, Magno 0
ARELLANO (76): Hernandez 11, Caperal 11, Agovida 10, Pinto 10, Forrester 6, Salcedo 6, Jalalon 6, Enriquez 5, Cadavis 4, Margallo 4, Nichols 3, Bangga 0, Gumaru 0
QUARTERS: 20-14, 35-39, 60-54, 78-76
Second game
PERPETUAL HELP (69): Thompson 14, Omorogbe 14, Baloria 12, Arboleda 10, Dizon 7, Alano 6, Bantayan 4, Elopre 2, Lucente 0, Jolangcob 0, Oliveria 0
EAC (49): Paguia 12, Happi 8, King 7, Jamon 4, Mejos 4, Munsayac 3, Monteclaro 2, Castro 2, Tayongtong 2, Morada 1, Manga, 0, Hasan 0
QUARTERS: 11-8, 31-16, 46-32, 69-49
