San Beda clips San Sebastian in NCAA season-opener

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Coach Boyet Fernandez pulled deep into his roster and found the spark in Clint Doliguez as San Beda kickstarted its title retention bid with a 76-67 victory over San Sebastian in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The transferee from Ateneo unloaded all of his six points in the fourth period to trigger the Red Lions’ huge finishing kick.

Robert Bolick and Davon Potts put on the finishing touches in the defending champions’ 17-3 killer tear to turn a 60-57 deficit midway in the quarter to a commanding 74-64 lead with 1:02 to play.

“The way we played today, we just want to salute San Sebastian for a well-played game. Credit to coach Egay (Macaraya) for preparing well,” said Fernandez. “Our defense really stepped up in the fourth quarter. Clint Doliguez came in and gave us the energy we needed.”

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Bolick dropped seven of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, including an awe-inspiring reverse lay-up in the final 2:30 that proved to be a huge blow on the Golden Stags. He also went 3-of-5 from three, while hauling down four rebounds.

Javee Mocon also registered a double-double of 15 markers, 13 boards, two assists, and two blocks, while Donald Tankoua got 10 points and eight rebounds in the win.

Michael Calisaan topped San Sebastian with 13 points and five rebounds, while Renzo Navarro uncorked seven of his 12 markers in the fourth period, on top of seven assists.

RK Ilagan and Allyn Bulanadi both collected 10 points in the losing effort for the Golden Stags.

The Scores:

SAN BEDA 76 – Mocon 15, Bolick 15, Tankoua 10, Potts 9, Soberano 6, Doliguez 6, Bahio 4, Cabanag 3, Noah 2, Presbitero 2, Abuda 2, Carino 2, Tongco 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 67 – Calisaan 13, Navarro 12, Ilagan 10, Bulanadi 10, David 6, Gayosa 6, Are 4, Capobres 2, Calma 2, Mercado 2, Valdez 0, Baetiong 0, Baytan 0.

Quarters: 20-14, 31-29, 50-51, 76-67.