Navarro heats up late, lifts San Sebastian past EAC

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Renzo Navarro drilled the big plays late as San Sebastian slipped past Emilio Aguinaldo College, 75-73 in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The diminutive playmaker scored all of his five points in the final minute, drilling the huge corner three and following it up with a reverse to give the Golden Stags a 74-70 lead with 13.8 seconds to play.

Jerome Garcia tried to salvage the game with a corner three with 9.7 ticks left to cut the deficit down to one, but Allyn Bulanadi could only muster a split from the free throw line in the last 7.5 seconds.

Unfortunately, Francis Munsayac panicked in the waning seconds and passed the ball to Jervin Guzman, whose jumper rimmed out at the buzzer to hand the win to San Sebastian.

“I imagined all of our games to be close, but at times, we fall short in the end. This time, we’re glad that we’re the ones to come out on top,” said coach Egay Macaraya.

Navarro also contributed four assists and three rebounds in the win for the Golden Stags, who bounce back and even their record at 4-4.

Ryan Costelo also had a hand in the victory, unfurling all but one of his 11 markers in the fourth quarter, on top of two dimes and two steals.

Michael Calisaan still was able to top San Sebastian in scoring with 19 points and two rebounds despite being ejected at the 1:14 mark of the third quarter for incurring two unsportsmanlike fouls against Sidney Onwubere.

RK Ilagan also went 3-of-5 from beyond the arc to wound up with 12 markers, five boards, and three assists.

“The good thing about this is we’re hoping we could sustain this. We’re ok being 4-4 this year compared last year that we only got one win in the first round,” said Macaraya.

Onwubere topped the skidding EAC (3-5) with 22 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks, while Munsayac had 16 markers in the Generals’ third straight defeat.

The Scores:

SAN SEBASTIAN 75 – Calisaan 19, Ilagan 12, Costelo 11, Calma 10, Gayosa 5, Navarro 5, Are 4, David 2, Baetiong 2, Mercado 2, Valdez 2, Bulanadi 1, Quipse 0, Capobres 0.

EAC 73 – Onwubere 22, Munsayac 16, Guzman 10, Garcia 7, I. Mendoza 6, Diego 4, Bugarin 4, Bautista 3, Pascua 1, J. Mendoza 0, Corilla 0, Neri 0.

Quarters: 17-16, 40-37, 50-53, 75-73.