INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines ? Overlooked and virtually dismissed the past few seasons, San Sebastian on Saturday returned to the top in grand fashion.

The Stags punctuated one of their finest seasons in history by completing a stunning sweep that ended San Beda?s three-year reign last night in the NCAA basketball tournament.

Jimbo Aquino delivered in the clutch and the Stags, relying on an awe-inspiring defensive stand in the fourth quarter, came away with a masterful 76-61 victory in Game 2 to clinch their first title in seven years before a largely pro-San Beda crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

Held to a single point in the first half, the 6-foot Aquino fired 15 in the last two quarters, including 10 in the first six minutes of the fourth period to put the Stags firmly in control, 66-58, after trailing by as many as 12 points.

The Stags sealed the deal by applying a menacing defensive blanket that shut down San Beda in the fourth period. The Lions missed all their 15 field goals in the fourth quarter with their five points all coming from the free throw line.

San Sebastian?s players and yellow-clad supporters began celebrating with less than a minute left and with San Beda still misfiring, even from the charity stripe.

?I didn?t expect this [sweep], but I am happy the players were really committed to winning this season,? said San Sebastian rookie coach Ato Agustin, who took the helm in November last year after replacing Jorge Gallent.

?Our target was to reach the Final Four this season so winning the title is a bonus. I dedicate this to the San Sebastian community for their support.?

The Stags got off to a flat start, making just eight of their 27 shots from the field, allowing the Lions to seize a 38-28 advantage at the break.

?My players were trying to rush things in the first half, they were becoming selfish,? Agustin said. ?I had to scold them at halftime and good thing they woke up in the third period.?

Aquino responded to the challenge with a five-point cluster to open the fourth period, 59-56. His triple with 4:01 remaining shoved the Stags comfortably ahead, 66-58.

?It?s a great feeling to win a championship before I graduate,? said Aquino, who was later named Finals MVP.

?We have to give credit to San Sebastian,? said San Beda coach Frankie Lim, whose team was limited to just five field goals for the entire second half. ?Nobody expected them to win two straight and wipe us out in the finals.?

Earlier, Archie Inigo buried a triple with five seconds remaining as Letran forced a winner-take-all tiff for the juniors crown Thursday with an 83-80 nipping of San Beda.

The scores:
First Game (Jrs)
LETRAN 83?Tampus 28, Khobuntin 22, Ongteco 12, Inigo 11, Cruz 4, So 3, Cudal 2, Cabigas 2.
SAN BEDA 80?Amer 39, Sara 16, Dela Cruz 9, Moralde 7, Abatayo 4, Ludovice 3, Chavez 2, Gotladera 0, Monteclaro 0, Javier 0, Amin 0.
Quarters: 19-30, 43-39, 62-56, 83-80

Second Game (Srs)
SAN SEBASTIAN 76?Aquino 16, Bulawan 15, Pascual 12, Raymundo 11, Najorda 5, Abueva 5, Gatchalian 4, Del Rio 3, Sangalang 2, Maconocido 2, Semira 1.
SAN BEDA 61?Lanete 16, Pascual 11, Tecson 10, Caram 6, Marcelo 6, Daniel 4, Hermida 4, Gamalinda 2, Dela Rosa 2, Taganas 0, Tirona 0.
Quarters: 14-19, 28-38, 54-56, 76-61