San Sebastian vs Perpetual Help in the NCAA Season 97. NCAA/GMA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–San Sebastian broke through Perpetual’s vaunted defense in the fourth quarter to prevail, 63-58, and register its first victory in the NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball at La Salle Greenhills Gym.
JM Calma, Rommel Calahat and Itchy Altamirano scored in bundles in the final five minutes as the Stags shook off the Altas’ full-court press that hounded them all day to improve to 1-1 in a tie with their victims.
Calahat hit a layup and a three-pointer in succession to give San Sebastian the lead for the first time, 51-49. Altamirano followed it up with another trey for a 54-49 lead.
“When we lost to Arellano, we took it badly,” said Calahat in Filipino referring to their stunning defeat in their first game. “This game we really prepared for it. That was our motivation.”
Jielo Razon sank two charities while fellow Perpetual gunner Kim Aurin drilled in a jumper to power a 6-0 spurt afterwards and retake the lead, 55-54.
But it proved short-lived after 6-foot-4 JM Calma uncorked from the three-point lane in the Stags’ own nine-point windup.
Calma topscored for the Stags with 17 points, while Calahat finished with 14.