MANILA—Pamboy Raymundo took over during a crucial stretch in the fourth period as San Sebastian repulsed Jose Rizal, 61-52, Friday to seal a championship duel with San Beda in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Playing in his final season for San Sebastian, the 5-foot-9 Raymundo shot 10 straight points as the Stags pulled away from 46-all with five minutes left to book a return trip to the finals.
The Stags tightened the defensive noose on the Bombers, holding them to without a single field goal in the last 5:30.
“As defending champions, the pressure was on us,” said San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin. “But we worked hard and we got rewarded with this victory.”
But San Sebastian, seeking a 13th title, faces tough odds in the finals this Wednesday with San Beda owning a thrice-to-beat advantage or an outright 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Stags center Ian Sangalang contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds as he dominated JRU’s Cameroonian big man Joe Etame, who was held to eight points.
Calvin Abueva, the MVP derby leader, finished with 10 points, including an off-balanced shot that sewed up the win, 59-52, with 56 seconds remaining. Abueva also pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.
The Stags also got a huge lift from Ronald Pascual, who fired eight points after missing the last five games because of a recurring fever.
But the day belonged to Raymundo, who followed up his 29-point effort in the 82-90 defeat to San Beda last week with a stirring performance in the final period against JRU.
“He showed why he’s the leader of this team,” Agustin said of Raymundo.
JRU took the lead in the last period, 46-43, after an 11-4 run capped by JR Bulangis’ short stab. Photo by Celest Flores
The scores:
SAN SEBASTIAN 61—Raymundo 14, Sangalang 13, Abueva 10, Pascual 8, Semira 7, Del Rio 5, Gatchalian 4, Bulawan 0, Najorda 0.
JOSE RIZAL 52—Hayes 10, Matute 9, Almario 8, Etame 8, Lopez 6, Njei 5, Bulangis 4, Montemayor 2, Badua 0, Apinan 0, Kabigting 0.
Quarters: 14-12, 28-20, 39-35, 61-52
SAN SEBASTIAN 61—Raymundo 14, Sangalang 13, Abueva 10, Pascual 8, Semira 7, Del Rio 5, Gatchalian 4, Bulawan 0, Najorda 0.
JOSE RIZAL 52—Hayes 10, Matute 9, Almario 8, Etame 8, Lopez 6, Njei 5, Bulangis 4, Montemayor 2, Badua 0, Apinan 0, Kabigting 0.
Quarters: 14-12, 28-20, 39-35, 61-52
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