San Sebastian College-Recoletos trailed by as many as 18 points but found its rhythm just in time to deny Arellano University, 71-66, in NCAA Season 98 on Friday.
Kenneth Villapando scored seven of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to pace the Stags. He shot 5-for-7 from the field and also tallied seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block
Alex Desoyo and Ichie Altamirano both finished with 12 apiece. Desoyo also dished out five assists while Atamirano had four.
San Sebastian booked back-to-back wins to improve to 5-6 while Arellano dropped to 5-8.
Arellano jumped out to a 23-14 first quarter lead and extended it to a high of 18 points, but San Sebastian was quick to make adjustments in the first half, nearly erasing the entire lead and pulling to within one, 32-31, after back-to-back triples from Desoyo and a basket from Villapando.
The Chiefs managed to head into the break with a 37-33 cushion with Axel Doromal leading the way with 11 points over the first two periods.
The Stags surged ahead after a low-scoring third quarter that ended with a frustrated Arellano head coach Cholo Martin heading over past the halfcourt line after a chippy final possession. San Sebastian led by a hair, 49-48, heading into the fourth.
Travis Mantua fired a triple to tie things up at 56-all before his steal led to a crucial finish with 2:03 left as the Chiefs came to within two, 65-63.
But Stags skipper Altamirano fired a long bomb to make it a 68-63 spread before his foul on Neil Tolentino led to a split free throw.
A Villapando bucket down the stretch proved crucial as Arellano failed to find answers.
—JMB, GMA News
