Stags stake clean slate vs Cardinals

SAN SEBASTIAN’S unbeaten start in the 86th NCAA men’s basketball tournament has yet to impress coach Ato Agustin, who insists his Stags’ still leave much to be desired.

“We should be playing more aggressively,” Agustin said yesterday as the Stags braced for a clash with Mapua at 4 p.m. today.

The Stags shoot for their fourth straight victory and a piece of the lead with San Beda at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Jose Rizal U also seeks to extend its winning run to four games against St. Benilde at 2 p.m.

“Slowly but surely, we’re getting to the place that we really wanted, and we hope to continue to improve,” said Jose Rizal mentor Vergel Meneses.

Despite their lofty positions, both the Stags and Bombers are wary of their rivals.

“All the teams are capable of beating anyone this year,” said Agustin.

“We can’t underestimate other teams, otherwise, we’ll get punished,” said Meneses.

The Stags hardly looked the team that won the crown last year after they scrambled past Letran and Perpetual Help, before playing true to form in a 106-66 ambush of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.

The well-rested Cardinals have practically the same lineup as last year, when they made a late-season run to salvage fifth place.

“For us to have a chance against San Sebastian, we need to do the little things well, like defending tough and rebounding hard,” said Chito Victolero, whose team routed Arellano, 73-53, for its second win in three outings last week.

The Bombers, getting big games from Cameroonians Joe Etame and John Njei, rolled to three straight victories after dropping their first game to San Beda.