All-Filipino Stags loom as ‘NC’ top contender

MANILA, Philippines -  Despite playing sans foreign players, San Sebastian is tipped as one of the top contenders in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament, which gets going on July 8 at the MOA Arena in Pasay.

The Stags made quite an impression in a pre-season tournament, reaching the quarterfinals of the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup recently.

SSC coach Egay Macaraya said they are working on their speed, versatility and aggressive defense to negate their size disadvantage.

“We know we’re a smaller team compared to others who have foreign players,” said Macaraya. “What we did was to outrun our opponents, play tougher defense and being versatile.”

Macaraya also pointed to their best player in Michael Calisaan, a 6-6 forward who is now taking and making three-point shots and emerging as the team’s leader.

“I told him he can’t make it to the PBA if he keeps on playing what he was playing before. He has to have more weapons, like shooting threes and facilitating. I’m glad he accepted the challenge,” said Macaraya of Calisaan.

The Stags have also tapped Lorenzo Navarro, a transferee from La Salle who played high school ball for San Sebastian, and the second stringers like Alfren Gayosa, Ian Valdez, Allyn Bulanadi and RK Ilagan.

While Macaraya has mostly fixed his starting roster in Calisaan, Ryan Costelo, Jerick Fabian, Alvin Capobres and Jayson David, he said there’s still a chance to change his composition come game time.

“There is a chance I might tweak my starting five depending on the match up,” he said.