Allyn Bulanadi and the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags exacted vengeance on the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, taking a dominant 83-67 victory, Thursday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
It was a pivotal win for San Sebastian as they rose to a 7-3 slate in the NCAA Season 95 Seniors Basketball Tournament creating a logjam for second with Lyceum and Letran. Moreover, they dropped Saint Benilde to 6-4, losing four of its last five games.
“Yun yung sabi ko sa kanila. Lahat ng tumalo sa amin nasa top four. Good thing natalo namin Benilde na isa din sa mga contender for Final Four,” San Sebastian head coach Egay Macaraya recalling their 72-77 loss to Benilde last July 30. “May eight games pa kami kaya sana maganda ang takbo namin dun. Importante yung matalo namin yung team na nakatalo sa amin sa first round.”
Bulanadi powered the rout, dropping 32 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field, 5-of-12 from downtown. He also tallied four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
“May green light siya. One-hundred percent of what he plays lifts the team. Last year na rin niya ito and this is his last chance,” said Macaraya about the 6-foot-3 swingman.
With Bulanadi leading the way, San Sebastian dominated Saint Benilde right from the get-go.
Not satisfied, the Golden Stags shackled the Blazers in the third frame, limiting them to just 11 points. Yes, the same output Bulanadi had during the frame, as he scored 11 of San Sebastian’s 20 points.
San Sebastian would lead by as much as 25 points in the game, 78-54, with 6:25 left.
RK Ilagan added 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists for the Golden Stags, while Alvin Capobres finished with 12 points and six rebounds. JM Calma gobbled 14 rebounds as well.
“Alam naman natin na nandito lahat ng credit sa mga bata. They work playing defense and Allyn scored thirty-two points. Lahat ng nagagamit ko nag dedepnsa at rume-rebound. It’s all about teamwork. Yun talaga nangyayari sa team,” beamed Macaraya as San Sebastian held Benilde down to a horrid 29-percent shooting clip.
Yankie Haruna was the sole bright spot for Benilde, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Justin Gutang had nine points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists but shot just 2-of-12 from the field while committing three turnovers.
San Sebastian will next face the Perpetual Altas on Tuesday, September 17 at 12:00 nn. Benilde, on the other hand, look to snap out of their skid when they take on the Mapua Cardinals on the same day.
The Scores:
SSCR 83 – Bulanadi 32, Ilagan 13, Capobres 12, Desoyo 8, Calahat 7, Sumoda 6, Calma 3, Tero 2, Isidro 0, Altamirano 0, Cosari 0, Suico 0
CSB 67 – Haruna 16, Nayve 10, Gutang 9, Young 8, Naboa 7, Belgica 5, Leutcheu 3, Carlos 3, Sangco 2, Lepalam 2, Mosqueda 2, Flores 0, Lim 0
Quarterscores: 28-20, 48-39, 68-50, 83-67
