NCAA: Abueva helps Stags edge Generals

MANILA, Philippines—It took a while before the game started but it was worth the wait.

San Sebastian barely bucked the absence of injured Ian Sangalang as it held off Emilio Aguinaldo College, 94-93, Monday night in the NCAA Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The game was hit with a two-hour delay after a dunk by Stags’ forward Calvin Abueva during shoot-around caused a ring malfunction.

San Sebastian, which seized solo lead with a 6-1 mark, squandered a double-digit lead late but managed to escape behind Abueva’s dominating night.

Abueva stuffed the stat sheet anew with 29 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists while Pascual added 21 points.

The Generals came as close as three, 88-91, and had the chance to cut the deficit further but Noube Happi missed both of his free throws with 34 ticks left.

The Cameroonian power forward ended up with 26 points and 14 rebounds in a losing cause.

EAC suffered its seventh setback in eight stints.