The San Sebastian Stags picked the best time to unleash their best performance of NCAA Season 93.
Finding its groove in the middle quarters, San Sebastian rolled to the next phase of the stepladder semifinals with an 85-73 whipping of Jose Rizal U last Friday night in their do-or-die showdown at Mall of Asia Arena.
“It was all heart and hard work,” said San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya in Filipino. “I’m really happy with the effort and the energy of the players. They sacrificed and worked very hard.”
The victory sent the Stags to another do-or-die clash with second seed San Beda on Nov. 7 with the winner earning the right to face Lyceum in the best-of-three finals.
The Bombers swept the two elimination-round games against the Stags, but San Sebastian came out with more energy and urgency as it eliminated a team that won 11 games during the regular season.
Held to just six points in the 74-69 win over Letran in the playoff last Tuesday, RK Ilagan fired 15 of his 21 points in the second quarter, while Michael Calisaan and Alfren Gayosa combined for 16 points in the third period, where the Stags outscored the Heavy Bombers, 30-11.
“We’re all excited,” said Calisaan, who had 36 points in the win over Letran. “One win and we’re in the finals. Our goal is to win a championship this year. Thank God because we’re slowly but surely achieving our goals. But of course we know San Beda is a strong team.”
The Stags pulled away from a 43-41 advantage with Jayson David hitting a triple followed by a three-point play from Calisaan. Back-to-back treys from Allyn Bulanadi and Gayosa were also part of a 28-4 run in the third period that put the Bombers away.
“At halftime, we talked about stopping the momentum of JRU,” said Macaraya. “That is why we tried to push them to press. It was working so we just continued with our pressure defense until the end.”
The Stags won despite committing 27 turnovers. They also hit 10-of-25 triples.
It was the fourth straight do-or-die victory for the Stags, who needed to win their last two games in the elimination round to forge a playoff for the last Final Four slot.