Staglets buck Squires, near 4th title in row

San Sebastian leaned on a Raffy Gusi triple and then pounced on two free throw misses by Jeremy Roxas as it edged upset-conscious Letran, 83-81, yesterday to move closer to their fourth straight title in the 84th NCAA juniors basketball tournament at the Big Dome.

Almond Vosotros had 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals while Arvie Bringas had 19 points and 16 boards as the Staglets seized a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series and a win away from sealing a four-peat feat and a fifth title overall.

Gusi, however, delivered the biggest shot of the game—a triple from the right side that turned out the game winner.

“We were a little bit rusty and maybe a little bit relaxed, that’s why it was a close game,” said San Sebastian coach Raymond Valenzona, who swept the elimination round in 12 games and had to wait for two weeks because of the stepladder semifinals.

“The breaks went our way in the stretch,” he added.

The Squires, who are gunning for an 11th crown, had several chances to knot the count and force overtime but blew them all.

After Roi Sumang, who exploded for 25 points, scored with 16 seconds to go but Glenn Khobuntin missed a wide-open lay-up. Jeremy Roxas plucked the offensive rebound, launched a shot and was fouled by Vosotros before the endgame buzzer sounded.

Roxas, who went two-of-three from the penalty line earlier, missed both attempts.

NCAA Juniors Notes: Remember Keith Agovida of Jose Rizal? Agovida, who erupted for 82 points early this season to become the new record holder in scoring in a single game, grabbed almost all the awards including the MVP plum. He was also a member of the elite Mythical First Team that included San Sebastian’s Arvie Bringas, Letran’s Glenn Khobuntin and Jarelan Tampus and St. Benilde’s Martin John Reyes, the Most Improved Player and the Defensive Player of the Year. The only title he didn’t win was the Rookie of the Year, which went to Tampus. – Joey Villar