Stags sweep past Cards, share second

Christian Coronel and Jam Alfad took turns in delivering the goods for San Sebastian in the final two quarters as the defending champion Stags rallied to beat the Mapua Cardinals, 87-82, yesterday in the 78th NCAA basketball tournament at the Makati Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Marco Fajardo exploded with a season high 41 points including three crucial free throws in the homestretch as Jose Rizal outlasted Letran, 80-76.

Coronel started it all by erupting for eight of his 20 points including two triples in the third quarter while Alfad took charge in the fourth quarter when he scattered seven of his 13 markers in the period as the Stags zapped the fight out of the Cardinals.

It was Stags’ sixth win in eight games, tying the PCU Dolphins, who were severely punished in the aftermath of their fight-abbreviated match with the San Beda Lions Thursday.

Robert Lagar led the Cardinals with 19 markers, 12 of which coming from behind the three-point arc, but lacked the endgame poise to sustain his frenetic shooting as the Cardinals absorbed their fifth loss against three wins.

"Pinakita ng mga bata na kaya naming maglaro kahit under pressure," said San Sebastian coach Arturo Valenzona.

Tied at 77-all with less than five minutes remaining, Alfad hit four of the Stags’ next six points that gave them an 83-80 cushion with over a minute to go.

Christian Guevarra narrowed the gap at, 82-83, but it proved to be Mapua’s last show of force as it failed to score the rest of the way.