San Sebastian Stags in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament. –NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—San Sebastian took advantage of an error-plagued Jose Rizal University to grab a 72-68 win in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Friday.
The Golden Stags, who improved to 4-6 in the standings, forced the Heavy Bombers to 22 turnovers while tallying 12 steals and two blocks as a team.
“As always, they played together and they focused on the game. The problem here was there were a lot of physicalities and I have rookies. Right now though, they did their very best to defend,” coach Egay Macaraya said.
San Sebastian was holding on to a one-point lead with 2:46 remaining in the game when Joshua Guiab sank a touch bucket in the paint to get the lead for JRU, 68-67.
But Itchie Altamirano delivered the all-important inside to give the Stags the advantage back, 69-68.
The Heavy Bombers, who dropped to a 5-4 card, were given a chance to tie or win the contest but they turned it over with 7.4 ticks left.
Rhinwil Yambing finished with a game-high 17 points for San Sebastian. Romel Calahat and Ian Suico scored 12 and 10, respectively.
Joshua Guiab registered a double-double on a losing effort with 16 markers and 18 rebounds for JRU. Ry Dela Rosa and John Amores also chipped in 15 and 12 markers to their names.
The Scores:
SAN SEBASTIAN 72 — Yambing 17, Calahat 12, Suico 10, Altamirano 7, Villapando 7, Are 6, Escobido 5, Una 2, Cosari 2, Concha 2, Sumoda 2, Paglinawan 0, Barroga 0.
JRU 68 — Guiab 16, Dela Rosa 15, Amores 12, Sy 5, Dionisio 5, Arenal 4, Medina 4, Celis 3, Tan 2, Abaoag 2, Gonzales 0, Miranda 0, Villarin 0, De Jesus 0, Joson 0. Quarters: 12-22, 40-34, 53-57, 72-68.