Veterans Jessie Sumoda and Romel Calahat connived as San Sebastian College-Recoletos stopped streaking Jose Rizal University, 72-59, to return to the winning column of NCAA Season 99 on Tuesday.
Sumoda led the way for San Sebastian with with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field while Calahat finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Stags, who lost back-to-back in their previous games, improved to 2-3 while the JRU Heavy Bombers saw their three-game winning streak come to an end to drop to 4-2.
San Sebastian fell behind early, trailing 18-9 after the opening period. But turned things around in the second period with Sumoda, Raymart Escobido, Rafael Are, and James Una making key contributions to make it a 31-all game at the half.
In the third quarter, the Stags broke the halftime deadlock as Sumoda imposed his will in the paint before team captain Alex Desoyo and Escobido fueled a 9-3 closing run to take a 55-46 lead.
But the Heavy Bombers staged a fightback in the payoff period with Shawn Argente burying a triple to trim their deficit to five, 62-57. The rookie gunner, who shot 1-of-16 from beyond the arc in this game, missed his first 13 attempts from three.
The Stags, though, answered with a quick 6-0 rampage led by Sumoda and Calahat to regain a crucial 68-57 cushion with three minutes left.
Desoyo and Escobido then put on the finishing touches as the Stags spoiled the Heavy Bombers’ bid for a fourth win in a row.
Escobido and Desoyo each finished with 12 points as Are chipped in nine markers, six rebounds, and five assists.
Agem Miranda paced JRU with 15 points along with eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
He, like Argente, was ice-cold shooting from distance in this game, though, making only one of his eight attempts. As a team, the Heavy Bombers shot just 4-for-39 (10.3-percent) from three.
The scores:
San Sebastian 72 - Sumoda 15, Escobido 12, Desoyo 12, Calahat 11, Are 9, Una 6, Shanoda 4, Felebrico 2, Ra. Gabat 1, De Leon 0, Re. Gabat 0, Aguilar 0.
JRU 59 - Miranda 15, Guiab 9, Argente 7, Mosqueda 7, Arenal 6, Pabico 4, Sarmiento 4, Dionisio 2, Delos Santos 1, De Leon 1, Medina 0, Barrera 0, Sy 0.
Quarters: 9-18, 31-31, 55-46, 72-59.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
