Rookie lifts SSC; Aguinaldo pips Rizal

IT WAS rookie RK Ilagan’s turn to sparkle for the surging San Sebastian Stags.

The diminutive guard produced a shooting display to remember as the Stags subdued the Lyceum Pirates, 77-69, yesterday to keep their flickering Final Four hopes alive in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.

The 5-foot-8 Ilagan waxed hot in the second half, firing 23 of his career-best 25 points behind seven triples as the Stags extended their magical run in the second round to four straight victories to improve to 5-9.

“He (Ilagan) works hard and plays with a lot of heart,” said San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya, who has gotten heroic performances from Michael Calisaan, Allyn Bulanadi and Alvin Capobres in their second half surge.

“But the key today was everybody stepping up on the defensive end.”

What was once a promising Final Four bid for the Pirates is slowly fading after a third straight defeat that dropped them to 5-8.

Later, Emilio Aguinaldo College muddled up the race for postseason berths while enhancing its own bid by slipping past Jose Rizal U, 63-60, in a game that was put under protest by the Heavy Bombers, while Letran snapped a five-game slide with a 57-40 victory over St. Benilde.

EAC’S Sidney Onwubere gets hit with an inadvertent elbow of JRU’s Abdoulad Poutouchi during a rebound play. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Sydney Onwubere dished out his best game of the season with 26 points and nine boards for the Generals, but his performance was nearly overshadowed by the controversial ending of the game.

Referees whistled a foul on Igee King as JRU guard Tey Teodoro took a potential game tying triple. But the call was waved off upon review since time had expired when the whistle was blown.

Jose Rizal later put the game under protest.

The Generals ended a three-game slide to rise to 4-9, while the Bombers, losing for the first time in six games, dropped to fifth with a 7-6 record.

Rey Nambatac finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists to lead the Knights (6-7).

The scores:

First Game

SAN SEBASTIAN 77—Ilagan 25, Fabian 12, Bulanadi 10, Capobres 10, David 6, Calisaan 4, Costelo 4, Meraco 2, Serajosef 2, Valdez 2, Baetiong 0, Gayosa 0, Johnson 0, Quipse 0, Calma 0.

LYCEUM 69—Nzeusseu 24, Caduyac 8, Serafico 8, Alban 7, Ayaay 5, Alanes 4, Magbuhos 4, Baltazar 3, Soriano 3, Rubite 2, Marata 1, Gabayni 0, Malabanan 0, Soliman 0.

Quarters: 13-12, 28-30, 55-47, 77-69

Second Game

EAC 63—Onwubere 26, Laminou 19, Munsayac 6, Morada 4, Guzman 3, Neri 3, Corilla 2, Diego 0, King 0, Mendoza 0, Pascua 0

JRU 60—Dela Virgen 12, Cruz 8, Teodoro 8, Abdul Wahab 6, Poutouochi 6, Grospe 6, Dela Paz 4, Mendoza 4, Pontejos 4, Lasq uety 2, Dada 0

Quarters: 14-8, 34-19, 43-41, 63-60

Third Game

LETRAN 57—Nambatac 13, Calvo 8, Quinto 7, Luib 7, Sollano 7, Bernabe 6, Ambohot 5, Apreku 3, Pambid 1, Balagasay 0, Vacaro 0, Ular 0

ST. BENILDE 40—Fajarito 11, JJ Domingo 8, Saavedra 7, Dixon 6, Sta. Maria 3, Castor 2, Young 2, San Juan 1, Haruna 0, Pajarillaga 0, Pasamante 0, JS Domingo 0.

Quarters: 13-14, 30-19, 45-29, 57-40