JHOMEL Ancheta saved College of St. Benilde from disaster, scoring the winning basket in overtime against hard-fighting San Sebastian, 96-94, on Tuesday in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.
Back from a one-game suspension meted for throwing a punch on Letran big man Pao Javillonar, Ancheta redeemed himself by driving to the basket in the final 3.3 seconds that shattered the game’s final deadlock.
The Stags still had a shot at a game winner, but Raymart Escobido missed on a corner three at the buzzer, much to the relief of the entire Blazers team and its horde of fans at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Tuesday.
The Blazers kept the top spot with their 6-1 record, but obviously it wasn’t a win that satisfied coach Charles Tiu after seeing his team blow a huge 67-41 lead in the third quarter.
“I’m not happy at all. This is probably, maybe the worst in my life,” said Tiu. “I don’t want to say anything because I’m mad. I’m really mad. That’s an embarrassment.”
Tiu on other side of fence
Incidentally, just less than 24 hours ago, Tiu was on the Converge side that also rallied from a 27-point third-quarter deficit and stunned San Miguel Beer, 114-112, behind Alec Stockton’s game winning jumper in Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.
San Sebastian almost pulled off a similar feat as Escobido teamed up with dazzling guard Rafael Are to bring the Stags back from the grave.
A jumper by Are capped the Stags’ mighty comeback and sent the game into overtime, 87-all.
Ynot leads Benilde
Tony Ynot, who led the Blazers with 23 points, then scored five in the extra period, but these still weren't enough to shake off the Stags, who grabbed the upperhand at 94-92 on an Escobido three-pointer.
But Justine Sanchez countered for St. Benilde to tie the knot for the last time, before Ancheta came through with his endgame heroics.
Escobido finished with a career-high 29 points for San Sebastian, which suffered a sixth straight loss for a 2-6 record.
Allen Liwag had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who also got eight points and 10 rebounds from Sanchez.
The scores:
St. Benilde (96) - Ynot 23, Liwag 17, Sanchez 8, Torres 8, Eusebio 7, Turco 6, Morales 6, Ancheta 5, Cometa 4, Ondoa 4, Caujcom 3, Jarque 3, Sangco 2, Oli 0.
San Sebastian (94) - Escobido 29, Are 20, R. Gabat 12, Felebrico 9, Aguilar 9, L. Gabat 4, Ricio 3, Barroga 2, Velasco 2, Suico 2, Lintol 2, Pascual 0, Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 31-20; 58-37; 78-61; 87-87 (reg.); 96-94 (OT)
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