FILE–San Sebastian Stags’ Vince Suico. –FILOIL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Free throw shooting was key in San Sebastian’s close win against Letran, 69-64, in Group B of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup at San Juan Arena on Thursday.
In a highly physical game, the Stags made it a habit to attack the basket every possession in the last five minutes of the game to beat the defending NCAA champions.
“Having seven of our last points in the line was perfectly okay because there were still five minutes in the game. Our instruction for them was to go hard. Our three pointers, jumpshots and even open shots were not converting so we told them to just go hard,” San Sebastian assistant coach Louie Bautista said after the game.
The score was tied at 62with 4:46 remaining when Tristan Felebrico drove to the basket to fish for a foul. The Stags went back on the same plays for the next four possessions, going seven-for-eleven from the line (7-2 San Sebastian run).
The Knights, however, had a chance to tie the game with 13.2 remaining, 67-64, but King Caralipio missed a go-ahead bucket before fouling Vince Suico, who also went perfect from the line.
The Stags, who improved to 3-3, shot a stellar 73.3 percent (22-for-30) from the line.
Suico led San Sebastian in the victory with 13 points, all but three from the free throws, while Ichie Altamirano tallied 12.
Louie Sangalang scored 17 points for the Knights, who are knotted in the team standings with the Stags at 3-3. Kurt Reyson also scored 12.