The Daily Tribune <<< Without Fear or Favor >>>

»HEADLINES

»NATION

SQUIRES ALSO UPEND CUBS

San Sebastian ends San Beda reign, claims NCAA cage title

10/25/2009

San Sebastian shut down San Beda in the fourth quarter as it carved out a masterful 76-61 come-from-behind victory yesterday to clinch its first title in seven years in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at the packed Araneta Coliseum.

Jimbo Aquino scored 15 of his 16 points in the second half, including 10 in the fourth quarter before being taken out late in the game after he hurt a knee. But it was the defense of the Stags in the fourth quarter that spelled the difference.

Trailing almost throughout the match, San Sebastian toughened up its defense in the final period by holding San Beda, champion the last three seasons, to just five fouls shots and no field goals that sealed the Stags their first title in seven seasons and 12th overall, two behind the Lions.

It also marked the third straight time the Stags beat the Lions in the finals since the former beat the latter in the championship series of 1996 and 1997.

The Stags were already celebrating as early as two minutes remaining in the game after leading 69-58 and the Lions missing almost every shot they attempted from the field and the foul line.

The Lions, consoled by legions of their red-clad fans, including league president and San Beda rector Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, were on the other side, some stunned while most of them were crying for their failure to win the school their first ever four-peat feat.

“I’m happy we won on my first year,” said Ato Agustin, who duplicated the feat accomplished by San Beda mentor Frankie Lim when he steered the Lions to the 2007 title on his rookie season.

Aquino, who spewed fire with 24 points in a 72-68 triumph in Thursday’s opener, was adjudged the Finals MVP, which came as a reprieve after he was stripped of a place in the Mythical Five for a disqualification foul he incurred in an elimination round loss, ironically against San Beda.

“It’s really, really sweet,” said the soft-spoken team captain, playing his fifth and last season.

Gilbert Bulawan and Ronald Pascual scattered 15 and 12 points, respectively, while John Raymundo had 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds to help the cause.

Calvin Abueva, who had a monster effort in Game One with 10 points, 23 boards and five blocks, was hobbled by foul trouble but still finished with five points including a clutch tip in a crucial run in the fourth quarter.

Lim, for his part, was all praises for the Stags.

“I have to give it to coach Ato (Agustin) and the Stags, they are not expected to be in the finals and they wiped us out,” said Lim, who suffered his first finals loss since helping win the Mendiola-based school to the last two of its three-peat feat.

In juniors’ action, Letran relied on the clutch efforts of Jarelan Tampus and Glenn Khobuntin as it spoiled a San Beda party with a pulsating 83-80 victory to force a winner-take-all game.

Tampus waxed with 28 points which he laced with 14 rebounds, five assists, a steal and a black while Khobuntin bucked the nagging effects of an ankle strain he sustained two weeks ago and churned out 22 points and 15 boards as the Squires knotted their best-of-three title showdown at one game apiece.

It was Archie Iñigo, however, who made the biggest shot of the game after he drained a booming triple — his third of the game — that shattered an 80-all deadlock with 5.8 seconds to go.

The Cubs then couldn’t execute the next play and allowed the Squires to escape with the win.

Baser Amer exploded with a series-high 39 points he spiked with five caroms, five assists and two steals but turned the ball a series-high 12 times that somehow hastened San Beda’s downfall.

San Beda roared to a blazing 24-11 start and appeared headed to sweeping the series and handing the school its 15th straight crown.

It would also have been a tribute to legendary San Beda mentor Ato Badolato, who has decided to retire this year after steering the Cubs to 15 of its 16 championships since he took over the reins 37 seasons ago to concentrate on his job as San Beda athletic director.