Stags seek share of top spot versus Generals

MANILA—A surging San Sebastian squad hopes to continue its mastery of Emilio Aguinaldo College when they collide Wednesday in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

A win in the 2 p.m. duel with the Generals will allow the Stags to catch up with the defending champion San Beda Red Lions in the lead with a perfect 6-0 record.

Jose Rizal U and St. Benilde look to rebound from previous-game setbacks when they meet in the second game at 4 p.m.

The Heavy Bombers are reeling from a 77-79 double overtime defeat to Perpetual Help, while the Blazers absorbed a 91-112 blowout loss to Letran last week.

Both the Bombers and the Blazers have two wins apiece.

The Stags survived their toughest test yet in Letran, dumping the Knights, 71-62, behind the heroics of Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva and Ronald Pascual.

The 6-foot-6 Sangalang fired 22 points, while Abueva had 18 to propel the Stags.

San Sebastian will be playing an EAC team just five days after the Generals were mauled by a menacingly sharp San Beda, 62-103.

It will be up to the likes of EAC standouts Emil Vargas, Claude Cubo and Jolas Paguia to stop the onslaught of the Stags, who have not lost to the Generals since the former UCAA champions joined the league in 2009.

The game against EAC actually opens a tough stretch for the Stags where they will face Arellano, Mapua and San Beda.

The Stags will play the Lions on Aug. 19 for the first time since their tension-filled championship series last season which was won by San Beda via a two-game sweep.