The first round of the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Tournament for San Sebastian College-Recoletos has been a rollercoaster ride.
After a 72-59 victory over Jose Rizal University, breaking the Heavy Bombers’ three-game win streak, the Golden Stags hold a 2-3 record, placing them in the sixth spot alongside College of Saint Benilde.
Before their significant win against JRU, the Golden Stags suffered back-to-back losses against fellow contenders College of Saint Benilde and Lyceum of the Philippines University, along with a defeat in their opener against Mapua University.
Their sole win before JRU came against the struggling Arellano University, currently ninth in the standings.
Despite their turbulent start, one of the most reliable assets in the Golden Stags’ arsenal is their three-headed guard rotation featuring Rafael Are, Raymart Escobido, and Alex Desoyo.
In their first four games, Are, Escobido, and Desoyo were among the top four leading scorers for San Sebastian. Are led the way with an average of 15.75 points per game, closely followed by Escobido with 10.0 points per game, and Desoyo contributed 8.75 points per game.
These three guards proved vital in their victory over the Heavy Bombers. Are, Escobido, and Desoyo all played crucial minutes in the match, despite sharing similar positions, helping the Stags withstand a late rally from JRU to secure the win.
Escobido and Desoyo had remarkably similar statlines, with Escobido scoring 12 points. He also grabbed three rebounds, provided three assists, and blocked a shot.
Meanwhile, Desoyo contributed 12 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Are had the lowest scoring output among San Sebastian’s guard rotation with only nine points. Still, his six rebounds, five assists, and six steals played a pivotal role in their win.
“Actually, talaga naman yung mga guards, well deserved naman yung playing time nila. They deserve it.
“Actually, ako yung nahihirapan to use them kasi three guards na nga yung ginamit ko on the last part ng game, puro point guard, kasi puro sila magagaling at talagang kailangan ko silang gamitin eh,” said first-year Stags head coach John Kallos.
Despite the standout performances from his guards, Kallos emphasized that all three of them must continue to create opportunities for the rest of the squad and adhere to the game plan.
“Guards talaga malakas doon but we have to play as a team. Sabi nga ni Jessie (Somoda), punta nga kami sa comfort zone namin. Kung hindi kami makashoot sa labas, punta kami sa loob,” Kallos declared.
“Yun ang maganda naming ginawa today.”
