NCAA: San Sebastian stops skid behind Nikko Aguilar, Rafael Are

San Sebastian’s Nikko Aguilar during a game against JRU in NCAA Season 100.–NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Nikko Aguilar buried a miracle three in the closing seconds and San Sebastian College held off Jose Rizal University’s fightback for an 87-85 squeaker on Wednesday at the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.

Seizing the moment from a broken play, Aguilar shook off Joshua Guiab and launched the go-ahead shot from the corner that bounced thrice on the rim before trickling in with 23.1 seconds left.

The heavyset forward later on preserved his own heroics and Rafael Are’s remarkable performance by splitting his free throws in the end as the Stags finally scored a breakthrough win, ending an eight-game slide.

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“I wasn’t thinking about anything else. I just saw an opening and launched the shot,” said Aguilar in Filipino after finishing with 13 points off the bench.

Are was almost unstoppable in attacking the lane, scoring a career-high 28 points on their way to win No. 3 out of 11 games, forcing a three-way tie with the Heavy Bombers and the Arellano Chiefs at the bottom of the standings.

Raymart Escobido fired 17 points and Reggz Gabat added 11 for the Stags, who won their first two games before dropping the next eight. Still, stealing a spot in the Final Four remains feasible.

“We treat every game as a championship game, like there’s no more tomorrow. That’s the team’s mindset right now,” said San Sebastian coach Arvin Bonleon.

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Marvin Raymundo and Shawn Argente tallied 20 points each and Guiab had 17 points for the Bombers, whose coach Louie Gonzalez was slapped with a one-game inactivity.

Gonzalez confronted the game officials in the dying seconds of the Bombers’ 75-71 defeat to the Mapua Cardinals, earning the suspension.

Are, San Sebastian’s do-it-all speedy guard, was all over the floor, knocking down shots and hitting nine free throws as the JRU defense mobbed him without letup.

“I told him that once he sees an opportunity, attack the defense. He has permission to shoot,” said Bonleon.