Stags hit perfect 10, rap listless Generals

MANILA, Philippines - Calvin Abueva fired a career-high 34 points while Ian Sangalang hauled down a personal best 25 rebounds as San Sebastian rolled past Emilio Aguinaldo, 99-63, yesterday to stretch its win run to 10 in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Stags, coming off a 70-68 victory over the San Beda Lions to sweep the first round elims last Friday, recovered from a scrambling start and only asserted their might in the second period where they surged to double-digit spreads with Abueva scoring inside and Sangalang dominating the boards.

Earlier, the Lions bounced back with a 69-55 win over the Perpetual Help Altas for their ninth win against one loss.

Abueva’s total output was the best this season since San Beda’s Garvo Lanete scored 32 points in a 103-62 win over EAC last July 29 while the former’s total field goals score (13) tied Lanete’s record posted in the same game.

It was also the best scoring effort since former MVP John Wilson of Jose Rizal uncorked 48 in a 68-52 victory over Perpetual four seasons ago.

The 6-6 Sangalang, on the other hand, posted the best rebounding effort this year since Letran’s Jam Cortes had 20 in their 76-67 win over EAC last Aug. 12 while his 15-offensive rebound effort was the best since another Letran cager, Jomar Datang, made 25 in an 85-84 win also over EAC two years ago.

Sangalang’s 25 rebounds also matched EAC’s team total.

The winning margin was also the league’s biggest since San Beda’s 41-point rout of EAC, 103-62. It was also SSC’s fifth double-digit win over the Generals in five of their last six meetings.

“For us to stay on top, we need this kind of effort, playing on the same page at the same time,” said San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson.

Kyle Pascual, a California-based former national youth team standout, scored 15 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and made four blocks for the Lions.

The Altas, who fell 1-9, fought back from a 19-33 halftime deficit to within, 44-47, late in the third period.

But the Lions toughened up on defense and relied on Pascual, Adler dela Rosa, Jake Pascual and Lanete on the other end to foil the Altas.

“Our energy was really low because we’ve spent most of it in the San Sebastian game a few days ago, we just played sloppy particularly in the third quarter,” said San Beda mentor Frankie Lim.

EAC fell to its third straight loss and seventh overall against three wins.

Joey Villar, Philippine Star