Stags clinch third seeding

SAN SEBASTIAN found an unlikely spark in seldom-used guard Gio Vergara in the final period as the Stags overcame the Perpetual Help Altas, 81-71, last night to claim the No. 3 seed in the Final Four of the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

CJ Perez pumped in 20 points, but it was Vergara who hit the biggest shots in the last four minutes as the Stags forged a Final Four duel with No. 2 Letran on Nov. 7.

The 5-foot-7 Vergara, one of 11 rookies in San Sebastian’s lineup, knocked in two triples in the fourth quarter, the last beating the shotclock to shove the Stags ahead, 70-68, with 2:34 remaining.

Harold Arboleda responded with a trey for 71-70, but that proved to be the Altas’ last stand, as Jovit dela Cruz and Perez finished off Perpetual Help with key free throws.

It was the fifth straight loss for the Altas, who will now face defending champion San Beda in a rematch of last year’s Final Four meeting. Both San Beda and Letran will have a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four.

“It was all about getting that winning mentality,” said Vergara. “We didn’t really care who were going to play in the Final Four.”

“As much as we want to celebrate, we need to improve more because we will be up against elite teams in the league now,” said San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson, who has been instilling an underdog mentality in his squad.

The Stags led by as many as 13 points at 45-32 in the third quarter as the Altas, who were not able to practice together over the weekend as some of the players went home to their provinces to vote in the barangay elections, looked out of sorts offensively.

Perpetual Help shot a total of 32 triples and made just six.

But the Altas came alive in the fourth quarter with Joel Jolangcob and Early Thompson sparking the turnaround.

Perpetual Help gunner Juneric Baloria missed all his 11 shots in 18 minutes on the floor. Harold Arboleda, an MVP candidate, also struggled with three points on 1-of-6 shooting.

The scores:
SAN SEBASTIAN 81—Perez 20, Guinto 15, Dela Cruz 14, Ortuoste 11, Vergara 10, De Vera 4, Aquino 3, Balucanag 2, Tano 2, Rebollos 0, Gusi 0, Trinidad 0.
PERPETUAL HELP 71—Omorogbe 21, Alano 14, Thompson 13, Jolangcob 8, Oliveria 4, Ylagan 4, Arboleda 3, Elopre 2, Baloria 2, Dizon 0, Bantayan 0, Lucente 0.
Quarters: 14-14, 36-32, 55-46, 81-71