Showing doubters what they can really do, Paeng Are erupted for a career-high outing to fuel a late comeback for San Sebastian against Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 91-84, in the NCAA Season 100 on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The veteran guard dropped 17 points in their fourth quarter rampage to finish with career-best 30 points alongside six rebounds, six assists, and one steal as the Stags crawled back from 14 points down and went 1-0 in the standings.
The Knights, meanwhile, lost steam down the stretch to drop to 0-1.
"Siguro 'yung motto lang namin ngayon ay prove them wrong kasi 'yung tingin nila sa San Sebastian ay nasa baba kami," Are said.
"Kaya ayon 'yung nagpa-boost sa amin na talaga na kaya namin, na kaya naming manalo every game."
San Sebastian, parading a new coach in Arvin Bonleon, kept the Knights within striking distance all throughout before Letran ignited late in the third and established a 77-63 cushion to open the fourth.
But the former three-time champions struggled to hold it until the buzzer with the Stags turning to Are and another veteran Tristan Felebrico to come from behind.
Down 79-72, San Sebastian unleashed a telling 19-5 blitz that included six points from Felebrico and four from Are while Harold Ricio also starred in that stretch, burying a triple that cut the gap to just one, 79-78.
In total, the Stags outscored the Knights in the payoff period, 28 to 9, to complete the win in stunning fashion.
"Sabi namin bubuntot lang kami talaga tapos 'pag may chance na sumilat, sisilatin namin dahil wala kaming ibang objective kung hindi mapaganda lang ang jelling namin," Bonleon shared.
Ricio and Felebrico both tallied 14 points while Raymart Escobido chipped in 13 markers, five rebounds, and two assists.
Kobe Monje and James Jumao-As were the bright spots for Letran, tallying 16 points each while transferee Jimboy Estrada chimed in with 14.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
