The NCR Qualifiers of the 2017-18 Philippine Collegiate Champions League ended with a bang as the San Sebastian Stags triumphed over the Colegio de San Lorenzo Griffins, 90-85, in a highly entertaining game at the Jose Rizal University Gymnasium in Mandaluyong City Thursday afternoon, January 18.
As expected, the two undefeated schools in the group stages went toe to toe all throughout, with neither team leading by more than eight. The action remained intense with less than two minutes remaining in the ball game, as Stags star Michael Calisaan, who has struggled shooting from the field, made the most from the free throw line, sinking both of his charities to give SSC-R an 83-79 lead with 1:24 to play.
With so much on the line, CDSL refused to go away lightly. Jan Dominic Formento nailed a three-point shot in the ensuing possession to pull within one, but in the end, San Sebastian executed when it mattered the most by making crucial plays and hitting from the charity stripe that enabled them to seal the victory.
SSC-R’s starters, save for Calisaan, were all in double digits scoring wise for a combined 60 points, as total team effort managed to cover for their usually dependent forward’s struggles in the game.
As a result of their win in the NCR Qualifiers, San Sebastian has earned a spot to play in the PCCL Elite Eight where other top-ranked squads will compete in a single elimination tournament format to determine the country’s one true National Champion!
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ADVT