CALVIN Abueva flashed the all-around brilliance that made him the MVP last year, recording a triple-double to lead San Sebastian past University of Perpetual Help, 80-65, on Monday in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The Stags won for the second time in three games as “The Beast” registered 15 points, 15 boards, and a career-high 11 assists -- his first triple-double performance since tallying 18 points, 13, rebounds, and 10 assists against Arellano University last year.
“Mentality ko pagpasok ng laro na ma-involve teammates ko para maganda ikot ng opensa namin,” Abueva said.
Ian Sangalang led the Stags in scoring with 23 points on top of 10 boards, while Jovit dela Cruz and Michael Juico added 16 and 15 markers, respectively.
The Altas went into the game with their confidence high after a victory over Letran. They found their groove in the second quarter as they outscored the Stags, 23-10, and trailed by just one, 35-34, at halftime.
“We know their confidence is high,” Stags coach Topex Robinson said. "We just had to be composed and not commit silly mistakes in the second half.”
The Stags scored 10 unanswered points to extend a five-point, 42-37, lead to a 15-point cushion they never relinquished.
Perpetual's Nigerian player, Nicholas Omorogbe, scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed nine boards. But Earl Thompson, the swingman who had 14 points against the Knights, was limited to six markers.
“We reminded them to stay home on the guards because they had monster games last time,” Robinson said. “We just let their (import) play his game.”
Perpetual lost for the first time in three outings.
The scores:
SAN SEBASTIAN 80 – Sangalang 23, Dela Cruz 16, Abueva 15, Juico 15, Antipuesto 5, Balucanag 4, Maiquez 2, Binuya 0, Pascual 0, Rebollos 0, Vitug 0
PERPETUAL 65 – Omorogbe 18, Alano 12, Vidal 11, Paulino 10, Thompson 6, Elopre 3, Arboleda 3, Babayemi 2, Allen 0, Jolangcob 0, Roman 0, Cenita 0
Quarter scores: 19-11, 35-34, 58-42, 80-65
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