By REYNALD MAGALLON
San Sebastian banked on the stellar performance of Raymart Escobido to take down Emilio Aguinaldo College, 86-70, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Sunday, Oct. 15.
Escobido put up a season-best performance of 23 points – 15 of which came in the second half, highlighted by a personal 6-0 run from a booming triple and an and-1 play to give the Stags a 70-52 cushion early in the final frame.
San Sebastian then kept EAC at bay from thereon en route to the bounce back win that hiked its record to 3-4 while snapping the Generals’ two-game win streak for a 4-3 record.
Jessie Sumoda added a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds while James Una had 13 points and seven boards.
Art Roque caught fire from deep as Perpetual sent Letran further down the cellar with a 74-59 victory in the second game.
Roque fired four of his six triples in the final frame where the Altas created the much-needed separation to shake off the slumping Knights and improve to a 3-4 record in standings.
He wound up with 22 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a complete performance on both ends of the floor while Jielo Razon and Christian Pagaran provided support with 12 points each.
Letran, which was left still searching for its breakthrough win after seven games, was actually ahead in the low scoring first half, 25-21.
Perpetual, however, started to find its groove in the third frame as Razon and Roque found the mark from deep to shove their team ahead 44-39 heading into the final frame.
The Altas never cooled down from there with back-to-back triples from Roque padded the lead to 14, 63-49, with a little over three minutes left in the game.
If that was not enough, Razon, who also fired four triples in total, and Roque nailed one trey each in the last two minutes to put on the finishing touches to the fiery shooting display.
The Scores
First Game:
San Sebastian 86- Escobido 23, Sumoda 14, Una 13, Calahat 9, Are 7, Re. Gabat 7, Desoyo 6, Ra. Gabat 5, Felebrico 2, Shanoda 0
EAC 70- Gurtiza 20, Maguliano 14, Robin 13, Cosejo 12, Ochavo 2, Bacud 2, Quinal 2, Tolentino 2, Angeles 2, Cosa 1, Balowa 0, Umpad 0, Luciano 0, Ednilag 0
Quarters: 19-13; 42-31; 62-49; 86-70
Second Game:
UPHSD 74- Roque 22, Razon 12, Pagaran 12, Abis 6, Barcuma 5, Omega 5, Nitura 3, Ferreras 3, Orgo 2, Nunez 2, Gelsano 2, Cuevas 0
Letran 59- Cuajao 15, Reyson 12, Monje 10, Ariar 5, Guarino 4, Fajardo 4, Nunag 4, Batallier 2, Santos 2, Garupil 0, Bautista 0, Jumao-as 0, Bojorcelo 0
Quarters: 11-13; 21-25; 44-39; 74-59
