Needing to shut down their homecourt disadvantage against the Arellano University Chiefs, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags built on a strong start and delivered late to stun the highly-partisan Arellano crowd in attendance, 65-56, Thursday evening at the Arellano University Gym in Legarda, Manila.
“Well I guess we’re doing the right thing. First of all, alam naman natin na na-limit namin ang Arellano to 56 points, and I guess that’s our target every time, kasi doon lang naman kami nananalo, sa defense lang talaga,” said San Sebastian head coach Egay Macaraya. “So I guess everybody stepped up, nagpapakahirap talaga, and nawala yung advantage and distractions, but give credits to the boys, they played very well.”
Both teams are now tied in the standings with a 1-1 slate.
As feared prior to this game, physicality was all over the place in the game, as a total of 53 fouls were called in the game, 28 for the road team.
“Disadvantage talaga knowing na pag humahabol sila, ‘yung intensity nila above normal. Medyo mahirap talaga,” admitted the second-year San Sebastian mentor. “But as I’ve said to my boys, it’s all about desire to win. We have to compete and forget about the inconvenience, the advantage, and especially yung home court nila”
And with the students and professors of the Arellano University starting to get into it in the final frame, as their Chiefs were able to cut a once-16 point lead to just two with 6:52 left, emotions got the best of the Chiefs after Kent Salado was called for an unsportsmanlike foul. A split on the stripe by JM Calma was followed by a booming triple courtesy of Renzo Navarro that muted the Arellano crowd.
A Michael Calisaan basket and a triple by RK Ilagan extended San Sebastian’s lead to double-figures once more, 61-50, with 2:02 left. Making matters worse for Arellano was that Salado cramped up with 2:56 remaining in the game.
With Salado out, Zach Nicholls tried to spark the Chiefs late scoring four points in a 6-0 run but the rally was short-lived as Ilagan found Calisaan for a short stab with 54.6 ticks left, serving as the dagger to the hearts of the Chiefs.
Calisaan powered the Golden Stags with 12 points and 13 rebounds in just 21 minutes of action. Allyn Bulanadi and Calma chipped in 10 points each.
The hosts were down by as much 16 points in the game, as San Sebastian were able to limit Arellano to just eight first quarter points leading to a 24-8 left to end the opening frame.
“Sinabihan kasi kami ni coach, marami sa team namin na foul trouble,” shared Calisaan. “Sabi ni coach na dumepensa pa rin kami kahit foul trouble kami, kasi hindi naman kami mananalo kung di kami dedepensa, alam naman natin na maliliit talaga kami. So ayun lang talaga, dumepensa pa rin kami kahit foul trouble kami, aggressive pa rin.”
Trying to find something that would fire his lackadaisical squad up, coach Jerry Codinera looked to the deep end of his bench and plugged in Eli Ongolo-Ongolo with 3:20 left in the first half. The foreign student-athlete’s entry pumped both the crowd and his team up. Arellano went on a 10-0 run to close out the opening half, cutting the lead to just five to end the first half.
Salado was the only Chief who finished in double-figures with 15 points. Arellano shot a poor 28 percent from the field while going a horrid 18-for-33 from the stripe.
San Sebastian will have an eight-day break before returning to the hardcourt, facing the Lyceum Pirates on Friday, July 21, at 5:00pm. Arellano, on the other hand, looks to bounce back on Tuesday, July 18, against the JRU Heavy Bombers.
The Scores:
SSC-R (65) – Calisaan 12, Bulanadi 10, Calma 10, Ilagan 9, David 5, Navarro 5, Capobres 4, Are 4, Mercado 4, Valdez 1, Baytan 1, Gayosa 0, Baetiong 0.
AU (56) – Salado 15, Meca 8, Nicholls 6, Dela Cruz 5, Flores 4, Canete 4, Abanes 4, Enriquez 3, Alcoriza 3, Villoria 2, Taywan 2, Ongolo Ongolo 0, Concepcion 0, Padilla 0.
Quarterscores: 24-8, 30-25, 46-43, 65-56.
