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MANILA, Philippines – The San Sebastian Stags and Adamson Falcons bowled over their respective Filoil Flying V Premier Cup opponents in contrasting fashion
The Stags posted a 25-point lead and lost it during a late rally by the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals while Adamson broke their match against Lyceum of the Philippines wide open with a 28-9 third quarter run that they sustained until the end.
San Sebastian is learning one of the hardcore truths about basketball — that no lead is safe. Not even a 25-point lead going into the final period.
The Stags looked well on their way to a blowout win over hapless Emilio Aguinaldo College as they sported a 21-point lead, 81-60, with under 7 minutes to play in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup at the Arena in San Juan on Friday, May 13.
However, the Generals unleashed a fiery 18-4 salvo in the last 4 minutes that rattled the Stags, 85-78, with 59 seconds to play. EAC forced a turnover on San Sebastian point guard Ryan Costelo in the next possession but their own court general, Joren Morado made a bad pass that led to a Michael Calisaan fastbreak for the match’s final points, 87-78.
“I think we need to learn how to win,” said San Sebastian head coach Edgar Macaraya who wasn’t sure if he was going to be happy or angry as his team squandered a 25-point lead, 74-49, in the final minute of the third period. “I don’t think we panicked on offense. It was on defense where we lost our heads.”
The Stags put the Generals on their heels from the opening tip with their dribble drive offense working to perfection.
The Generals were unable to impede the incursions from the top of the key by San Sebastian’s Reggie Ilagan Ian Valdez, and Ryan Costelo who repeatedly drove inside and found open teammates for drop passes or triples. San Sebastian knocked down 11 triples and finished with 19 assists.
EAC adjusted in the second half with a man-zone that stopped the drives from the top of the key but was unable to stop the wing attack from Michael Calisaan, Jerick Fabian, and Jason David.
Only when the Generals employed a throttling full court pressure defense did they make any headway in the final 4 minutes and 22 seconds.
Calissan led SSCR with 25 points while Ilagan and Alfred Gayosa added 18 and 10 points respectively.
EAC was led by center Hamadou Laminou’s 20 points and 16 rebounds with Sidney Onwubere, Francis Munsayac, and Jeric Diego chipping in 19, 12, and 10 markers respectively.
“We need to mature fast,” said EAC coach Aris Sison after the match. “And we already have veterans players. The 30 turnovers of ours are not going to help us.”
San Sebastian, in their fourth match under new head coach and former 1980s star Edgar Macaraya, evened their slate at 2-2, in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup while EAC joined College of Saint Benilde at the bottom of Group A with a 0-3 slate.
The Falcons anchored their second half attack on their centers for a 90-60.
The Falcons led, 40-34, at the half. However, when the third quarter resumed, Cameroonian center Papi Sarr scored 16 points and grabbed 5 rebounds to hike the led after 10 minutes to 68-43.
Sarr, their second year center danced and spun around Lyceum center Joseph Gabayni for a couple of and-one plays that sent his LPU counterpart to the bench for good.
Come the fourth period, Sarr’s replacement, Dawn Ochea continued the hit parade from the center slot with 8 consecutive points. After Ochea was subbed out due to foul trouble, Christian Bernardo scored on an undergoal shot.
The Falcons led by as much as 37 points after power forward-center Cristian Garcia hit a triple with 2:51 to play, 85-48.
Despite the huge margin of victory, first year Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren bared that his team was at only 50% of where he thinks they should be.
“We are a work in progress. We know their African player is injured so we took advantage of that by pounding them inside. But what we want to see is more fire, more consistency.”
Sarr led the massacre with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Jerrick Ahanmisi had his best outing of the tournament with 13 points with 9 coming from triples. Reserve guard Nick Paranada added 10.
Wilson Baltazar led the Pirates with 17 points with Shaq Allanes adding 12 of his own.
Adamson went to 1-2 while Lyceum lost their third straight to fall to 1-3 in the Premier Cup. – Rappler.com
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