INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - For a school steeped in championship tradition, records, however amazing, offer little satisfaction.

?The record would look better if we win a championship,? said San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin after the Stags set the longest winning streak in NCAA basketball history with a dominant 100-66 victory over the Arellano University Chiefs.

Ian Sangalang lit up the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan with a career-best 28 points while Jimbo Aquino added 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Stags to their 15th straight victory of the season extended by the entry of three guest teams.

The Stags, who last appeared in the finals seven years ago, are gunning for their first title since winning back-to-back in 2002.

?We were very aggressive,? said Agustin, whose Stags moved within three victories of a historic 18-game elimination-round sweep and an automatic championship slot. ?I saw this win coming because the players are very intense in practice.?

The outcome was never in doubt after the Stags, playing with a more disciplined approach, erected a 77-46 lead early in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs, the toughest of three guest teams this season who are in fifth place with a 7-9 record.

The Stags? impressive ball movement led to a season-high 27 assists and a 61 percent shooting clip, while their relentless rebounding resulted in a 47-24 edge.

San Sebastian used a 17-6 spurt to extend a 25-15 lead to 42-21 on Raymond Maconocido?s triple four minutes before halftime.

Maconocido finished with 14 points, including 11 in the second period, while Calvin Abueva matched Maconocido?s output to go with his 11 rebounds.

It was 17-year-old Sangalang, though, who turned out to be the biggest star in the Stags? latest convincing victory.

The 6-foot-6 center from Lubao, Pampanga, hit 13 of his 19 shots and blocked three shots in a 23-minute stint.

?He?s a smart player,? Agustin said of Sangalang. ?He improvises with the plays if we become predictable.?

The Stags? remaining assignments are against fellow Final Four teams Letran on Friday, Jose Rizal U on Sept. 28 and San Beda on Oct. 7.

Earlier, Mapua, which seemed to have found its rhythm so late in the season, put up its first three-game winning streak as the Cardinals routed the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 87-69.

Mark Acosta led five other Cardinals in double figures with 22 points.

In juniors? play, San Sebastian clinched a Final Four berth with a 12-3 record after crushing Arellano, 91-34, while Mapua dumped EAC, 90-79, to improve to 4-12.

The senior scores:

First Game

MAPUA 87?Acosta 22, Cornejo 14, Raneses 11, Mangahas 10, Guillermo 10, Sarangay 8, Pascual 3, Stevens 3, Equiplog 2, Parala 2, Maniego 2, Cinco 0, Magat 0, Soriano 0, Espinosa 0.

EAC 69?Mendoza 22, Cubo 14, Santos 9, R. Yaya 8, Chiong 5, Jabaybay 4, Diolanto 4, L. Yaya 3, Liwag 0, del Rosario 0.

Quarters: 18-17, 30-25, 69-53, 87-69

Second Game

SAN SEBASTIAN 100?Sangalang 28, Aquino 21 Maconocido 14, Abueva 14, Maiquez 7, Del Rio 5, Raymundo 4, Najorda 4, Semira 2, Bulawan 1, E. Gatchalian 0.

ARELLANO U 66?G. Ciriacruz 21, Rivera 14, Celada 11, I. Ciriacruz 8, Tayongtong 3, Salcedo 2, Dimla 2, Anquilo 2, Reducto 0, Apostol 0. Agustin 0.

Quarters: 25-15, 52-32, 75-44, 100-66