Rookies give Stags big win versus Chiefs

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian, a team teeming with rookies out to prove their worth, repulsed Arellano U, 78-76, in nailing its first win in seniors basketball play of NCAA Season 89 at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Guard John Ortuoste erupted for 28 points with three triples while center Bradwyn Guinto collected double-double numbers with 14 rebounds and 10 markers as the Stags rebounded from a losing season debut against the Letran Knights Saturday.

Ortuoste, a product of SSC’s junior basketball program, and Guinto, a Fil-foreign find from Australia, played like grizzled veterans, handing the Stags their first win following the departure of former stars Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual.

“We’re not surprised. These guys are special. The Pinatubo trio (Abueva, Sangalang and Pascual) are gone but we have now these rookies ready to grab the chance to shine,” said returning SSC coach Topex Robinson.

“But it’s just our first win. It’s nothing. We have to work harder as the other teams might take a closer look at us now with this win,” Robinson also said.

Though younger and with less experience, the Stags came out fighting hard and foiled the Arellano side tipped to contend in the season with a win over three-peat champion San Beda in a pre-season summer league.

“We know they’re a good team with a good system under coach Koy Banal. We just tried to outhustle and outwork them,” said Robinson.

The Stags put up sterling efforts in a decisive 13-4 run that gave San Sebastian an eight-point lead at 73-65 with 3:40 left to play.

Ortuoste stood out as he went 10-of-15 from the field, pouring 12 of his 28 points in the payoff period.

“I just kept my focus on the game and kept in mind what coach was telling us,” said the 5-foot-7 guard from Antipolo, a part of the SSC juniors team that completed the school’s four-peat in 2008.

Two other rookies in Leodaniel De Vera and Jaymar Perez and veteran Jovit dela Cruz also put in double-digit outputs for the Stags while Levi Hernandez and Prince Caperal topscored for the Chiefs with 11 apiece.

Perpetual Help employed a lockdown defense, holding Emilio Aguinaldo College down to eight points each in the first two quarters, and dominated the Generals to the finish for a lopsided 69-49 win later in the night.