Stags outlast Falcons, duel Knights next

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian got stretched to the limit by Adamson but got the huge lift from its “Big 3” as the Stags edged the Falcons in overtime, 85-83, to move closer to a Final Four slot in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at FilOil Flying V Arena yesterday.

Given relief from their duties with NLEX in the PBA D-League, Ronald Pascual (29 points, 16 rebounds), Calvin Abueva (24 points, 22 rebounds) and Ian Sangalang (18 points, 13 rebounds) delivered the goods as SSCR advanced to the next phase of the Sweet 16 stepladder playoffs.

The Stags will face the Letran Knights in a knockout match for the second and last Final Four berth in the Luzon-Metro Manila bracket Wednesday at the Ormoc Astrodome in Ormoc City.

Mark Cruz and Raymond Almazan filled up for the absence of team leader Kevin Alas as Letran thumped Far Eastern, 73-64.

Cruz erupted for 25 points to go with two rebounds and four assists while Almazan made 14 markers, 16 rebounds and six blocks as the two combined in a 10-0 windup that settled the issue for the Knights.

Letran played without Alas, who is currently in the US to train with American Basketball Assiciation (ABA) team Los Angeles Slam.

After failing to finish off the tired but stubborn Falcons despite a six-point lead in the last 16.2 seconds of regulation, the trio went to work at the start of extension, conspiring in a 9-2 blast that pushed the Stags ahead, 83-76, 2:23 left.

The ever resilient Falcons threatened to within 80-83 on a putback by Rodney Brondial and a fastbreak play of Jeric Canada with still 31.3 seconds before Pascual gave them more breathing room, 85-80, on freebies off Roider Cabrera’s preemptive foul, 11.9 ticks left.

“We only prepared for one day and only had a complete roster to practice yesterday (Wednesday) so we were sluggish in the first half,” said SSC coach Topex Robinson, whose wards fell behind by 11-26 early in the second canto.

“I told them in the second half to focus on making defensive stops and let our defense feed our offense,” he added.

Pascual, who just recovered from intestinal flu, banged in four triples, including two in the third as SSC wrested the lead, 56-55.

The Stags took hold of the upperhand until 16.2 ticks mark of the fourth, when Abueva drove in for a 74-68 tear.

As if not playing a second outing over at the D-League immediately after this match, Adamson unleashed its long bombs, courtesy of Canada (7.5 seconds) and Cabrera (2.2), to send the game into OT.

SSC could have won it outright but Sangalang’s alleyhoop off Abueva pass rimmed out as time expired.

Canada unloaded 21 points, including five of the team’s 13 triples, to pace AdU, which rushed to the Trinity Gym to play as Freego Jeans in the D-League.