Stags exact payback on Knights, boost playoff push
NATIONAL Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA) Season 93 hosts San Sebastian Stags got back at rivals Letran Knights after defeating the latter, 9564, yesterday that also saw them give their playoff push a boost.
Using a fiery start to the game, the Stags built a good enough momentum and confidence to use as a jump- off point to set their course to the win and exact payback on the Knights, who beat them in the first round of the ongoing season of the country’s longeststanding collegiate league.
The win also improved San Sebastian to 7- 6, good for joint third place with idle Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers.
Firing from all cylinders, the Stags left their opponents in the dust, racing to a 25- 11 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
Letran though would bounce back in the second period, outscoring San Sebatian, 19- 9, in the first six minutes to cut its deficit to four points, 34- 30.
The Stags would recover some ground thereafter to stay in command, 45- 38, at the half.
San Sebastian would jack up things in the third canto, exploding on offense while tightening its defense.
The Stags limited the Knights to just nine points to pull away, 69- 47, at the end of the third period.
With the game pretty much under their control, the Stags just hung tight and staved off any Knights fightback in the fourth quarter to notch the win
Guard Jayson David paced the Stags with 17 points while Allyn Bulanadi had 16 and Michael Calisaan 13.
Letran, which dropped to 7-7, was led by Bong Quinto’s 14 points.
“We did not expect this game to be lopsided. Our last game went into overtime so we were expecting another grind against them. But our three- point shooting was sharp and our ball movement was there and those really helped,” said Stags coach Egay Macaraya after their win. —