Stags make it 13 straight on a Friday

MANILA, Philippines - Calvin Abueva came through with his 10th double-double performance of the season as he lifted San Sebastian to an 86-70 rout of St. Benilde and its 13th straight victory in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

Abueva, who is leading the MVP race, had 27 points and a career-high 20 rebounds in an effort that is fast becoming a norm. It marked the10th time he went in double figures in both scoring and rebounding as the Stags further solidified their place on top with an unblemished 13th win.

It made up for Abueva’s nine turnovers and an off-day of Ronald Pascual, who torched Jose Rizal with a career-high 33-point effort Wednesday but was held to just 11 points after San Sebastian threw a box-in-one defense centered on the latter.

But it did little to satisfy San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson.

“We can pound all the records we want but at the end of the day, it’s winning the championship that counts,” said Robinson, out to become the first rookie mentor to win a championship since San Sebastian’s Ato Agustin achieved the feat two years back.

Earlier, Letran drew a career-high from Kevin Alas as it dumped an undermanned Lyceum side, 88-74.

Helped by St. Benilde’s loss a couple of hours later, the Knights clinched the second slot in the Final Four alongside San Sebastian.

Alas, 19, came through with a personal high 29 points including 12 from the foul line and spiked his strong offensive game with 11 assists, five rebounds and three steals to power the Knights to their seventh straight win and 11th overall against two losses.

The streak was also the longest by the Knights since soaring to an 11-0 (win-loss) start six seasons ago when they eventually went on to clinch the crown.

“It’s a good feeling to be close to getting back to the Final Four,” said Letran coach Louie Alas, Kevin’s father, after his team failed to make it past the elimination round for the first time since making it there the previous seven seasons.

Franz Dysam and Jam Cortes chipped in 11 points apiece while beanpole Raymond Almazan had a game-high 14 rebounds to top his six points and two blocks.

Lyceum, which is missing its best big man Allan Santos for undisclosed reasons, relied heavily on bench-scoring headed by Jygruz Laude and Gian Mallari but it wasn’t enough though as it fell to its eighth defeat against five wins.

And the biggest reason for the Pirates’ misery was Alas.

Alas just came through with his best effort by far in his three seasons with the Knights since a 24-point, 12-assist performance in their 92-89 win also against the Pirates in the first round last Aug. 5.

Alas said his decision to defer more to his teammates this year is the main reason he’s having a career season.

“I know I have good teammates to pass to that’s why I’m confident giving up the ball. It also helps me ease the defense a bit for me,” said the third year information technology student.

The Blazers, who missed talented rookie Paolo Romero who migrated to the United States, fell to their eighth setback against five wins.