Needing something to get themselves going for the final stretch of the 93rd Season of the NCAA, a regrouped San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags did not let up against bottom-ranked team Mapua University Cardinals, taking a 97-70 rout, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
“This game was all about team effort,” shared second-year San Sebastian head coach Egay Macaraya. “We had 21 assists and we had good looks in the three-point area. I think we shot thirty-six percent. Malaki sa amin yun.”
Leading the romping was do-it-all swingman Jayson David, who shot the lights out, scoring 24 points on an efficient 69 percent shooting clip.
“Every game naman Jayson is there, isa siya pinaka consistent na player namin,” Macaraya remarked about David. “Huwag lang ma-injure kasi itong batang na ‘to malaking chance makapag-PBA.”
The win snapped San Sebastian’s three-game losing streak, lifting their card to 8-9 — tied for fifth with the Arellano Chiefs. Mapua, on the other hand, remained in last place with a 3-14 record.
Behind Alfren Gayosa’s 11 first quarter points, the Golden Stags raced to an early 31-20 lead. And they never looked back, as Alvin Capobres, Gayosa, and David took turns burning the eight-man Cardinals’ perimeter defense.
San Sebastian would lead by as much as 28 points, 97-69, after RK Ilagan knocked down a triple with 33.9 ticks left.
Gayosa added 18 points, spiked by four triples, while Capobres tallied his season-high 17 points to go along with seven rebounds and four dimes. The Golden Stags knocked down 12 triples in the game to negate the Cardinals’ huge free throw advantage.
Cedric Pelayo and Almel Orquina finished with 16 and 15 points respectively, while Christian Bunag finished with another double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds.
San Sebastian take on the Perpetual Altas in their last game for the elimination round on Thursday, October 19, at 4:00pm. Mapua’s final assignment will be against the Arellano Chiefs on Tuesday, October 17, at 2:00pm.
The Scores:
SSC-R 97 – David 24, Gayosa 18, Capobres 17, Calisaan 9, Ilagan 9, Calma 6, Costelo 5, Mercado 4, Bulanadi 3, Baetiong 2, Valdez 0, Navarro 0
MU 70 – Pelayo 16, Orquina 15, Bunag 13, Estrella 12, Victoria 7, Jimenez 5, Raflores 2, Aguirre 0
Quarterscores: 31-20, 46-34, 69-52, 97-70
