Ilagan forced to watch from bench as Stags come up short vs Pirates

San Sebastian didn’t open the NCAA Season 94 men’s basketball tournament the way it wanted to after bowing to Lyceum, 67-65, in a heartbreaker Saturday.

And if there was one player who deemed the setback too bitter to swallow it had to be Regille Ilagan.

The diminutive gunner was punishing the Pirates for 18 points before he got called for his fifth and final foul at the 8:02 mark of the fourth quarter.

“I got carried away with my emotions, because I’m not used to this type of atmosphere and this is all my fault,” said Ilagan in Filipino. “I got into it, I got a technical. I couldn’t do anything about it so I just cheered my teammates on.”

With Ilagan on the bench, the Stags carried on and tallied four straight steals for a 9-1 run to give them a 69-68 lead.

San Sebastian ultimately fizzled out in the final minutes after the Pirates’ constant traps even before the ball handler crossed the midway line.

Ilagan said he regretted what had happened and he just promised that he would keep his emotions in check the next time he steps on the court.

“The coaches told me that I have to develop my leadership and to communicate better with the younger players,” said the third year Ilagan. “I’m teaching the younger players the things I learned from past veterans like Ryan Costelo. Whenever they feel pressure I just talk to them.”