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STAGS CLAIM GAME 1

San Sebastian blasts San Beda in 2 OTs

By Julius Manicad

10/23/2009

San Sebastian College shoved San Beda College’s vaunted dynasty on the brink of a grand collapse by hacking out a thrilling 72-68 double overtime victory over the Red Lions in Game One of the best-of-three finals of the 85th NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Leaning on the explosive game of Jimbo Aquino and Calvin Abueva, the Stags moved a win shy of halting the consecutive titles of the Red Lions to just three and revive their dynasty of long ago.

Aquino erupted for 24 points and had 12 rebounds while Abueva knocked down six of his 10 points in the two extra periods to turn San Sebastian’s shaky offensive thrust into a deadly, well-oiled machine.

Abueva, the burly, soft-spoken 21-year-old power forward who soared from an obscure town in Porac, Pampanga to the glittery scene of the oldest collegiate league, also had 23 rebounds and five blocks while reducing San Beda’s import, Sudan Daniel, into a mere observer in their well-orchestrated assault.

And with his two stars dominating the show, San Sebastian’s mentor, Ato Agustin, had the luxury of dictating the tempo, burying the stigma of their back-to-back losses to the Red Lions that almost hampered their entry to the finals.

“We followed our game plan; we worked as a team, defended and rebounded well and took away their fast break play,” said Agustin, the 1992 PBA Most Valuable Player who also had numerous classic encounters with San Beda coach Frankie Lim during his playing years.

“The boys wanted it more. I saw their composure in the two overtimes. I told them to focus on defense because the offense will come.”

Daniel led the Red Lions’ scoring binge with 11 points, but his aggressive all-around plays evaporated down the stretch of the second overtime as the Stags controlled the board and earned their points from the stripe.

With Borgie Hemida sending the game into its second overtime, 64-all, San Sebastian stormed to the court with fire in its eyes, scoring five consecutive markers to coast to a 69-64 lead.

Daniel, however, banged his charities to help San Beda move closer, but the Stags tightened their defense, paving the way for Ian Sanggalang and Abueva to ice the game with their free throws for the final count.

“It could have ended early if Anthony (del Rio) did not commit an inbound turnover,” Agustin said, recalling the scary play in regulations where his starting guard almost spoiled their Game One celebration.

“Good thing, everybody stepped up in overtime. I knew the boys wanted it; they played hard and worked hard for this win.”

Game Two is set tomorrow with the reigning champion facing very tall odds for the first time since yielding the finals opener to the Jason Castro-led Philippine Christian University in 2006.

“We’ll just make a little adjustment in Game Two. I have a good feeling that will run away with the victory,” Agustin said.