SSC nips game Letran; Mapua nears Final 4

MANILA, Philippines–Calvin Abueva scored on a short stab with 7.2 seconds remaining as San Sebastian survived a tough-playing Letran, 59-58, yesterday in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan. Abueva’s game-winner capped a stirring fightback by the Stags, who rallied from a 15-point third-quarter deficit to move closer to the twice-to-beat semifinal incentive with a 12-1 record. Mapua earlier trounced Perpetual Help, 79-72, to secure at least a playoff for the last Final Four berth. The Cardinals improved their fourth-running card to 8-5, with the Knights slipping into a tie for fifth with Arellano at 5-8. As it stands now, the Knights must win all their remaining three games—and hope that the Cardinals drop all three of theirs—to forge a playoff. Abueva finished with 18 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, where he teamed up with Pamboy Raymundo, who had 10 also in the last period. “The key was Pamboy (Raymundo) pushing the ball and Calvin (Abuvea) becoming aggressive in the fourth quarter,” said San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin, whose Stags missed Ronald Pascual who had the flu. “But we were also lucky that the breaks went our way in the fourth quarter. These close games provide a real good test to the composure of the team.” The Knights’ defense gave San Sebastian fits and boosted them to a 44-29 lead late in the third period. So resolute was the Knights’ defense that the Stags only breached the 30-point mark with 33 seconds left in the third period on Ian Sangalang’s free throw. But Raymundo opened the fourth period with eight straight points, and Abueva scored nine of the Stags’ next 15 points, to give San Sebastian its first lead, 55-54, since 18-16 in the second quarter, heading into the last 1:39. The senior scores:
First Game
MAPUA 79—Mangahas 24, Ranises 15, Sarangay 12m Cirnejo 10, Pascual 8, Guillermo 6, Ighalo 2, Acosta 2, Cabrera 0, Parala 0, Banal 0.
PERPETUAL 72—Allen 18, Kintanar 11, Ynion 11, Vidal 10, Danganan 7, Arboleda 7, Alano 4, Salvado 3, Elopre 0. 
Quarters: 11-13, 29-32, 52-47, 79-72
Second Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 59—Abueva 18, Raymundo 12, Semira 10, Sangalang 6, Gorospe 4, Dela Cruz 4, Najorda 3, Bulawan 2, Gatchalian 0. 
LETRAN 58—Ke. Alas 14, Taplah 10, Cortes 10, Espiritu 8, Almazan 6, Belencion 6, Belorio 2, Alejandro 2, Rodil 0, Dysam 0, Pantin 0, Kr. Alas 0. 
Quarters: 10-10, 22-28, 32-44, 59-58