MANILA, Philippines—San Sebastian was lucky it was leading by 15 points when it lost its entire bench players in the last two minutes of the game.
With just five players left, San Sebastian went on to defeat San Beda, 87-72, in an emotional encounter Monday in the round-robin final four of the 2011 Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Arena in San Juan.
Even the Red Lions were left with only their playing unit on the court following a bench-clearing incident with 2:11 left in the game, which saw eight players from both squads get ejected.
It started with an elbow from Kyle Pascual that hit Calvin Abueva, who was positioning himself for a rebound behind Rome Dela Rosa, in the nape.
Abueva responded by slamming Dela Rosa in the head—and then the some of the players reacted almost automatically to the tension inside the court.
Pascual and Abueva were the first thrown out, along with San Sebastian’s Arvin Vitug, Michael Miranda, Joshua Grilli, Krushev Ferrer, San Beda’s Ryusel Kyoga and Mico Sorela, who were all punished for entering the court.
“It was highly emotional, not just for the players but also for the whole community,” said San Sebastian head coach Topex Robinson, as the incident came just days after the ugly brawl between the Red Lions and San Sebastian volleyball coach Roger Gorayeb at the San Beda gym.
“It was a good win for us. San Beda lost a lot of players but they still gave us a good fight and we respect that,” added Robinson.
The Stags, led by the big three of Ian Sangalang, Ronald Pascual and Abueva, had the upper hand in the entire game and led by as many as 19 points, 59-40, over the depleted Red Lions.
Sangalang churned in 20 points and notched 12 rebounds, Abueva added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Pascual, who injured his left knee early in the payoff period, had 15 points and three rebounds.
The Red Lions, who missed the services of star guard Garvo Lanete and Jake Pascual, tried to stage a comeback early in the third quarter but ultimately lacked firepower.
Dela Rosa finished with 13 points even as Carmelo Lim added 10 points in a losing cause for San Beda.
San Sebastian faces Ateneo while San Beda clashes with University of Cebu Tuesday in the single round-robin semifinals.