By: Bjorn Del Deade
San Sebastian College-Recoletos stunned Colegio de San Juan de Letran with a late fourth-quarter surge, 91-84, to open their NCAA Season 100 campaign at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Sunday.
The Knights led throughout the fourth quarter, extending their advantage to as much as 14 points, the largest in the game, until Rafael Are’s layup with less than three minutes remaining allowed the Stags to overtake Letran, 82-81. San Sebastian then sealed the comeback with a 9-2 run.
Are finished with 30 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, along with six assists and six rebounds for the Stags, who outscored Letran 28-9 in the final period.
“Yung motto lang namin lahat saka yung sinasabi samin ni coach, saka sinasabi ko sa team na prove them wrong,” Are said postgame. “Kasi yung tingin nila samin sa San Sebastian, nasa baba kami. Kaya ‘yun yung nagpa-boost samin talaga, na iprove namin sa kanila na kaya naming manalo every game.”
Letran entered the second quarter with a six-point lead after Ian Dimaano sank two free throws, 30-24.
With the Knights ahead by five midway through the second quarter, 43-38, Reggz Gapat and Lauren Gabat fueled a six-point run to briefly give the Stags the lead, 44-43. However, Letran responded with a 9-4 spurt to reclaim the lead by halftime.
Letran seemed in control heading into the fourth period with a 12-point cushion, 75-63. However, they committed four turnovers and were outrebounded 21-7 by San Sebastian, leading to their collapse and eventual defeat.
“Sabi ko sa mga bata, every time maglaro, we take it as a championship. Lahat, walang bukas. Lahat ibuhos na natin, and one game at a time kami,” said first-year head coach Arvin Bonleon.
The Golden Stags shot 39.1 percent from the field and dominated the paint with 52 points compared to Letran’s 34. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with Letran shooting 21.7 percent and San Sebastian hitting just 12.9 percent of their threes.
Stags Harold Ricio and Tristan Felebrico added 14 points each, while Raymart Escobido chipped in 13.
Letran’s Kobe Monje and James Jumao-as each scored 16 points.
San Sebastian will aim for their second win against defending champion San Beda University on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. Meanwhile, Letran will seek their first victory against Jose Rizal University on Friday, Sept. 13, at 12 p.m.
The Scores:
San Sebastian 91 – Are 30, Ricio 14, Felebrico 14, Escobido 13, Gabat R. 8, Celasco 4, Gabat L. 4, Aguila 2, Barroga 2, Maliwat 0, Suico 0, Lintol 0, Pascual 0.
Letran 84 – Monje 16, Jumao-as 16, Estrada 14, Montecillo 9, Santos 7, Go 7, Dimaano 6, Cuajao 5, Galoy 4, Delfino 0, Nunag 0, Pradella 0, Baliling 0.
Quarterscores: 30-24, 22-24, 23-25, 9-28
