Stags look to build on stellar 2nd round for next season

San Sebastian head coach Egay Macaraya. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Too late the hero.

That was how San Sebastian head coach Egay Macaraya summed up the Stags’ campaign in the NCAA Season 92 after easily dispatching Jose Rizal U, 85-58 on Thursday, to end their season.

The first-year coach could only wonder what could have been for San Sebastian had they fared well in the first round.

READ: San Sebastian ends campaign with rout of JRU

Losing only twice in the second round, the Golden Stags’ Final Four aspirations were derailed by their anemic 1-8 record in the first nine games.

Inconsistency doomed San Sebastian early, but Macaraya still praised his players for the vast improvement in the second round which led them to finish with an 8-10 card.

“Yung mga bata, on and off. In fairness, ngayong second round, maganda ang ipinakita namin,” he said.

READ: Refocused Calisaan leading the way for streaking Stags

Macaraya is hopeful that the stellar second round record would springboard San Sebastian next season.

“We need it. Until now, yung identity ng San Sebastian nung nag-umpisa magtatalo, hindi na nakita,” he said. “Booster lang sa amin na dalawa lang ang nakatalo sa amin sa second round. It’s a good motivation for us sa incoming 93rd season. Hopefully, everybody is healthy and ma-push yung winning tradition na gusto namin.”

The Golden Stags last got to the playoffs back in Season 89, and Macaraya hopes to end that drought next year when San Sebastian takes its turn as hosts.

However, he refuses to guarantee anything given the tough field he has to face in the NCAA.

“Alam natin kung gaano kalakas ang mga teams. It’s a good thing na lahat dito sa NCAA, competitive,” said Macaraya. “For us naman, yun ang first aim namin, to get to the Final Four. All we want is makabalik kami, kahit lang yung winning tradition.”