Perpetual holds off San Sebastian for back-to-back wins

GJ Ylagan. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Perpetual pulled off a great escape, fending off San Sebastian’s late rally to come away with a tight 68-65 victory on Tuesday in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

GJ Ylagan drained four pressure-packed free throws in the last 14.6 to finish with a team-best 15 points, alongside three rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block.

“I knew I needed to make it because if I miss, we might still lose the game. And I didn’t want to lose,” the senior forward said in Filipino.

But Ylagan’s biggest moment came with time winding down as he blocked Allyn Bulanadi’s potential game-tying trey, preserving the Altas’ second straight conquest to level their record to 2-2.

Prince Eze notched a double-double with his 12 markers and 13 boards, while AJ Coronel got 10 points and four assists in the win.

“It feels great because it’s so hard to win. We worked hard for this,” said Ylagan.

Perpetual almost lost grip of the game, squandering an eight-point lead, 57-49, midway in the payoff period as Michael Calisaan towed San Sebastian back in the game.

The Golden Stags kept on fighting, with the lead being trimmed down to one, 66-65, with a Bulanadi three with 8.8 ticks remaining, before Ylagan canned the insurance freebies to ice the victory.

Calisaan carried the load for San Sebastian (1-3) with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Ryan Costelo had 13 markers, four assists, and three boards.

Bulanadi wound up with 12 points and seven rebounds as the Golden Stags absorbed their third straight defeat.

The Scores:

PERPETUAL 68 – Ylagan 15, Eze 12, Coronel 10, Yuhico 9, Pido 6, Dagangon 6, Singontiko 5, Sadiwa 3, Lucente 2, Tamayo 0, Mangalino 0.

SAN SEBASTIAN 65 – Calisaan 14, Costelo 13, Bulanadi 12, Ilagan 8, Gayosa 7, David 7, Mercado 3, Navarro 1, Baetiong 0, Baytan 0, Valdez 0, Are 0, Calma 0, Quipse 0.

Quarters: 13-14, 30-22, 49-44, 68-65.