Grieving Bulanadi hits game-winner as Stags stun Lions

Games Thursday

(The Arena, San Juan)

10 a.m. – Perpetual Help vs. Mapua (Jrs)

11:45 a.m. – Letran vs St. Benilde (Jrs)

2 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs St. Benilde (Srs)

4 p.m. – EAC vs Arellano U (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines – San Sebastian's Allyn Bulanadi lost his mom just before the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament started.

He didn't lose his game though.

Bulanadi came through with the game of his life, stepping up big in the fourth quarter and draining the game-winning jumper late to lift San Sebastian to a shock 72-71 win over a heavily favored San Beda on Tuesday and breathe life to its dying Final Four hope at The Arena in San Juan City.

Struggling in the first three quarters, Bulanadi found his groove in the fourth and exploded for nine of his team-high 16 points there he capped with a jumper in transition with 3.8 seconds to go that completed the stunning win, the Stags' second straight and third overall in 12 outings.

Trailing by a point, 70-71, with 11.1 ticks to go, Bulanadi nearly blew it though after his inbound pass was intercepted by San Beda's Robert Bolick that allowed skipper Dan Sara to go to the line for two free throws after he was fouled by Ryan Castelo in a fastbreak play.

Sara, who is still bothered by a fractured finger that cost him to miss two weeks early this month, however, missed his two bonus shots, paving the way for that dagger shot by the 19-year-old Bulanadi.

"She was just watching somewhere, and this win is for her because she helped me become who I am now," said Bulanadi, who missed the start of the season to attend to his mom's wake back home in Davao City.

San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya, for his part, said the win showed the team's character despite the overwhelming odds.

"It was a big victory, the boys didn't give up and I'm very happy they are showing character right now and really wanted to win," said Macaraya, whose team avenged a 67-77 defeat to San Beda in the first round on Aug. 5.

He also had good words for Bulanadi.

"He was the hero of this game. He saved us," said Macaraya of Bulanadi.

The Lions heavily missed the services of Tankoua, who was lost for the season after tearing his right ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in their last game, as they imploded and blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter to absorb their second defeat against 10 wins.

The Stags were actually up by double digits after the first half, 37-27, after they outscored the Lions, 24-10, in the second canto.

San Beda came roaring back with Jayvee Mocon and Sara sparking a third quarter onslaught that saw turning the deficit to a 58-47 lead after the third period.

A Mocon basket stretch the Lions' advantage to 14, 66-52, with a little over six minutes remaining before Bulanadi took over from there to steal the win.

The scores:

SSC-R (72) – Bulanadi 16, Capobres 13, Calisaan 11, Ilagan 9, Fabian 6, Valdez 6, Mercado 5, Costelo 2, David 2, Serajosef 2, Baetiong 0, Gayosa 0.

SBC (71) – Mocon 15, Sara 12, Adamos 11, Bolick 9, Tongco 9, Potts 7, Soberano 6, Noah 2, Alas 0, Bonsubre 0, Carlos 0, Navarro 0, Bahio 0.

Quarterscores: 13-17, 37-27, 47-58, 72-71.