JHUNIEL dela Rama drained a tough jumper with three seconds to go to lift San Sebastian to a huge upset over Letran, 82-81, in the NCAA Season 101 on Wednesday at the Playtime Filoil Center in San Juan.
Dela Rama - a former Letran Squire - drained a jumper in front of the outstretched arms of Mark Omega which turned out to be the game-winning basket as the Stags completed the upset over the red-hot Knights, ending Letran's five-game winning run in the process.
In doing so, the Stags also ended their five-game slide and improved to 2-7.
"That play was designed by coach Melo (Navarro). Pinagusapan talaga namin na gusto namin i-design for Jhuniel. It's an isolation play para sa kanya. Good thing he was able to knock it down. That guy deserves yung shot na yun, yung moment na yun cause he's a very hard working guy,"
"He's been having that kind of shot naman even nung high school days niya pero during that time kasi he was playing the four-spot so there's only a few times na you'll see him coming off a dribble, shooting that shot or driving to the lane," he continued.
"Ako nakikita ko talaga nung napunta siya samin, madali lang yung transition niya kasi talagang very coachable. Ang ganda ng attitude at character niya, that's why di na ko nagtaka na may ganun siyang games dito. "
The Stags came out firing from the start all the way to the early goings of the third period as they opened a 57-42 lead behind Dela Rama and the hot Neil Castor.
But the Knights certainly wouldn't give up their streak without a fight as Titing Manalili and Deo Cuajao orchestrated a huge fight back for the Knights where they even took a 77-73 lead before Dela Rama scored with five unanswered to give the lead back to the Stags.
A basket from Ralph Gabat gave the Stags some breathing room but Cuajao drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 80, before Kevin Santos hit one of his two free throws to give Letran back the lead.
It only opened an opportunity for Dela Rama to stick the dagger to the heart of his high school alma mater as Cuajao missed one last attempt to salvage Letran's streak at the buzzer.
Dela Rama finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and two steals while Castor led the way for the Stags with 22 points on a sizzling 4-of-7 from downtown. Ian Cuajao, facing his older brother for the first time in an official NCAA game, finished with 13 points.
Manalili put on his scoring hat for the Knights this time, finishing with a career-best 26 points and 10 rebounds, though his streak of hitting double-digits in assists ended as he only dished out five dimes in this game.
The scores:
SAN SEBASTIAN 82 – Castor 22, Dela Rama 20, Ian Cuajao 13, Gabat 12, Felebrico 10, Nepacena 2, Lumanag 2, Dimaunahan 1
LETRAN 81 – Manalili 26, Deo Cuajao 22, Estrada 10, Gammad 8, Santos 3, Rosilio 3, Tapenio 3, Buensalida 2, Omega 2, Roque 2
Quarters: 20-13, 45-39, 65-58, 82-81
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