Bombers nip Altas; Stags edge Pirates

SAN SEBASTIAN’S Calvin Abueva blocks Lyceum’s Dexter Zamora. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

A FLURRY of triples from Ronald Pascual in the final period propelled San Sebastian past the shorthanded Lyceum Pirates, 87-79, last night as the Stags gained a tie for the lead in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The 6-foot-2 Pascual notched a season-high 32 points, including three straight triples midway in the fourth quarter that sent the Stags on their way to a fourth straight victory against a lone defeat.

Jose Rizal U later forged a three-team tie at the top with the Stags and the idle San Beda Lions after the Bombers stopped the Perpetual Help Altas, 64-59.

Alex Almario and Nate Matute wound up with 12 points each as the Bombers showed composure down the stretch in bouncing back from a 78-101 beating to the Stags in inflicting a second loss in six outings on the Altas.

“We were struggling with our offense, but we made up for it with our defense,” said Bombers coach Vergel Meneses. “We came out flat in the last game, but we were able to address that this time.”

Pascual nailed four of six triples in the opening quarter then went cold, hitting just one of nine shots from beyond the arc, until his fourth-quarter explosion that turned a 69-72 deficit into a 78-73 SSC advantage heading into the last 4:10.

“I’d rather see him miss than not shoot at all,” said San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson of Pascual, who made a season-high eight triples in 21 attempts. “I was telling him to keep on shooting. He’s been working on his shots. If he doesn’t shoot, I can’t utilize him.”

The Senior Scores:

First Game

SAN SEBASTIAN 87—Pascual 32, Sangalang 20, Abueva 16, Dela Cruz 7, Antipuesto 3, Binuya 3, Juico 2, Maiquez 2, Miranda 1, Balucanag 1, Rebollos 0, Vitug 0.

LYCEUM 79—Cayabyab 20, Ko 20, Zamora 11, Francisco 8, Mallari 6, Ambohot 5, Martinez 5, Azores 2, Laude 2, Garcia 0, Edding 0, Pascual 0.

Quarters: 26-19, 42-37, 57-62, 87-79

Second Game

JRU 64—Almario 12, Matute 12, Villarias 10, Mabulac 8, Lopez 8, Carampil 4, Dela Paz 4, Monserat 4, Camasura 2, Diapera 0.

PERPETUAL 59—Vidal 20, Thompson 12, Jolangcob 7, Elopre 5, Arboleda 5, Paulino 4, Babayemi 3, Alano 2, Omorogbe 1, Allen 0, Bitoy 0.

Quarters: 19-17, 29-30, 51-48, 64-59