SAN Sebastian pounced on a huge Letran meltdown in pulling off a 91-84 comeback win Sunday in NCAA Season 100 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Paeng Are led the Golden Stags’ charge from 14 points down in the fourth quarter behind a game-high 30 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Baste’s lead guard spearheaded a 19-4 run going home to erase a 63-77 deficit and take the upper hand for good, 82-81, with four minutes left.
The come-from-behind win was a fitting welcome for new San Sebastian coach Arvin Bonleon.
Harold Ricio and Tristan Felebrico had 14 points each, while Raymart Escobido added 13 for the winning team.
“Sinasabi ko sa mga teammates ko, prove them wrong, kasi tingin nila sa amin sa San Sebastian, nasa baba kami. Kaya yun ang nagpa-boost sa amin na i-prove namin sa kanila na kaya naming manalo every game,” said Are.
Bonleon added, “Nag-work hard yung mga players kasi undersized and underdog kami.”
Defeat in debut for back-to-back Juniors champion coach
Letran was led by Kobe Monje and James Jumao-os each with 16 points apiece, although 24 turnovers obviously hurt the Knights, and led to a 34-1 advantage for the Golden Stags on points off turnovers.
Curiously, despite the lack in size, Baste also outscored its opponents in points off the paint, 52-34.
“Sabi ko lang, full-court (press) lang talaga, wala kaming ibang depensa,” said Bonleon as the Golden Stags turned up the pressure in the final frame and rattled the Knights, resulting to a 22-10 edge in fastbreak points
The loss spoiled the seniors’ debut of two-time juniors champion Allen Ricardo for Letran, but at the same time, closed the unfinished business Bonleon had with the Knights.
“May unfinished business ako sa Letran kasi natalo kami sa Game 3 ng championship nung player pa ako,” recalled Bonleon, who had the likes of Rodney Santos, Armoni Llagas, and Aldrin Morante as teammates in San Sebastian which lost to Letran in the 1992 finals.
The scores:
SAN SEBASTIAN 91 – Are 30. Ricio 14, Felebrico 14, Escobido 13, Gabat 8, Velasco 4, Aguilar 2, Barroga 2, Maliwat 0, Suico 0, Lintol 0, Pascual 0.
LETRAN 84 – Monje 16, Jumao-os 16, Estrada 14, Montecillo 9, Santos 7, Go 7, Dimaano 6, Cuajao 5, Galo 4, Delfino 0, Nunag 0, Pradella 0, Bailling 0.
Quarters: 30-24; 52-48; 75-63; 91-84.
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