Momentum on Stags side vs Bombers

The long, hard climb in the 93rd NCAA season continues for San Sebastian and Jose Rizal University this afternoon at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Stags and the Heavy Bombers figure in a knockout match at 3:30 p.m. with the winner staying in the race for the second finals berth.

The loser will kiss the season goodbye.

At stake in the match is the right to face the San Beda Red Lions in yet another crucial match.

The Lyceum Pirates, unbeatable so far this season, are already in the finals, carrying an 18-0 record that should stand as longest win streak in the league.

The Stags, seeking their first NCAA crown since 2009, will go into today’s match oozing with confidence.

Last Tuesday, they survived the Letran Knights in a nervewracking ballgame, and seemed all set to conquer anybody that came their way.

Coach Egay Macaraya held back his emotions inside the pressroom, wanting to celebrate the victory, and his 56th birthday, but had to remind himself that bigger battles lay up ahead.

“Hopefully, this is the start,” he said, flanked by his two main gunners, Michael Calisaan and Ryan Costelo.

Making it to the semis is just the start. The road is littered with land mines.

“But we’re in. We’ll just show them the character and the brand of play from San Sebastian,” said Macaraya.

Calisaan, who scored 36 points against Letran, is confident that the Stags will have enough firepower against the Heavy Bombers.

“Coach Egay has a plan. Pero secret muna,” he said.