After dropping their first game to the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags are now in the midst of a three-game winning streak, taking a 76-63 win over the Mapua University Cardinals, Monday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
“I guess, yung right approach namin is that everybody is playing defense,” said second-year San Sebastian head coach Egay Macaraya. “Yun naman siguro dahil kung tingnan natin mababa yung percentage namin sa offense. The defense made the difference.”
San Sebastian are now 3-1 in Group B of the 2017 Filoil Flying V Pre-season Premier Cup, while Mapua dropped their fifth straight to go down to 0-5.
And the win came exactly one year since Michael Calisaan had figured in a motorcycle accident.
“This is the day na nadisgrasya siya. He made the late shots today. As I’ve said, may kanya-kanyang problema yung mga players, hopefully ma-eliminate namin ito come the NCAA season,” Macaraya said as Calisaan scored eight of his 16 points in the second half to go along with 19 rebounds.
After a close first half that saw San Sebastian take a one-point lead entering the second half, the Golden Stags were able to zone in on defense while breaking away from the offensive end.
Jerrick Fabian also found the touch in the clutch. The incoming San Sebastian senior bounced back from a two-point first half, scoring 13 points in the second half to help give San Sebastian a game-high 14 point lead, 76-62, late in the game.
“Hopefully, I could use Jerick as someone who could create for us. ‘Pag naco-control mga point guards namin, we need a secondary creator. He is a good penetrator,” Macaraya remarked about his swingman.
San Sebastian out-rebounded Mapua, 47 to 37, while forcing their opponents to commit 20 turnovers that led to 20 points.
Laurence Victoria paced Mapua with 18 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Andrew Estrella added 16 points.
San Sebastian look to extend their streak to four when they face the National University Bulldogs on Monday, May 29, at 1:30pm. Mapua, on the other hand, take on the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Sunday, May 28, at 1:30pm.
The Scores:
SSC-R (76) – Calisaan 16, Fabian 15, Capobres 9, Navarro 9, David 5, Bulanadi 4, Valdez 4, Sangalang 4, Are 3, Baytan 3, Calma 2, Costelo 2, Baetiong 0, Mercado 0, Gayosa 0.
MU (63) – Victoria 18, Estrella 16, Bunag 8, Raflores 7, Pelayo 4, Gamboa 4, Serrano 3, Biteng 3, Nieles 0, Magboo 0, Aguirre 0.
Quarterscores: 17-15, 29-28, 57-48, 76-63.
