Stags derail Lions’ Final Four march

SAN SEBASTIAN College’s Allyn Bulanadi and Jose Rizal U’s Tey Teodoro redeemed themselves when it mattered while Mapua’s Andoy Estrella simply refused to put a monster effort by a teammate go to waste.

And just like that, the 92nd NCAA Final Four race took another twist.

Atoning for an earlier miscue, Bulanadi buried a running shot with 3.8 seconds remaining as San Sebastian put a dent on San Beda’s Final Four bid with a pulsating 72-71 victory yesterday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Backstopping another dominant performance from Allwell Oraeme, who posted season-highs of 25 points and 27 rebounds, Estrella took over in the final period as the Cardinals crushed the Lyceum Pirates, 90-75, to tighten their grip at fourth spot with a 7-4 record.

Teodoro turned from goat in regulation to hero in overtime as the Heavy Bombers continued their mid-season surge with a 75-68 trouncing of the Letran Knights for their third straight victory.

The Lions’ bid to reach the Final Four ahead of everyone else hit a roadblock, after losing for only the second time in 12 games. San Beda sorely missed center Donald Tankoua, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

Bulanadi, a 19-year-old third-year player from Davao City, committed a crucial miscue that led to a Davon Potts lay-up for a 69-68 San Beda lead.
The defending champion Knights are now mired in their worst stretch in two seasons, after suffering their third straight defeat that dropped them to a share of sixth spot with Lyceum with 5-6 records.

The scores:
First Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 72—Bulanadi 16, Capobres 13, Calisaan 11, Ilagan 9, Fabian 6, Valdez 6, Mercado 5, Costelo 2, David 2, Serajosef 2, Baetiong 0, Gayosa 0.
SAN BEDA 71—Mocon 15, Sara 12, Adamos 11, Bolick 9, Tongco 9, Potts 7, Soberano 6, Noah 2, Alas 0, Bonsubre 0, Carlos 0, Navarro 0, Bahio 0.
Quarters: 13-17, 37-27, 47-58, 72-71