The San Sebastian Stags ended their year on a high note as they dethroned the Ateneo Blue Eagles yesterday and became the first NCAA team to win the Philippine Collegiate Champions League crown.
The Stags won, 73-67 in the finals’ deciding Game 3 at the Arena in San Juan City.
The Stags showed sheer grit and determination as they built leads that went as high as 12 and then staved off a furious comeback try by the Eagles in the fourth period.
Calvin Abueva was his usual energetic and lethal self as he tallied 20 points on top of 17 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. He also made two free-throws in the last minute of the game that sealed the championship for rookie head coach Topex Robinson.
San Sebastian took advantage of Ateneo’s sluggish performance on both ends of the floor in the second period, which they kicked off with a 13-3 run that established a 30-19 lead.
Aj Vitug had seven in that rally as the Stags eventually settled for a 36-29 lead at halftime.
Ateneo guard Juami Tiongson tried his best to rally his squad with his 11 points in the third canto but the Stags held court and still maintained a 57-49 lead heading to the last stanza of the match.
The Blue Eagles had one last fight in the as they came within four, 57-61, behind baskets from JP Erram and two free-throws from Kiefer Ravena.
However, Jonathan Semira, playing for the first time in four months after an ACL injury, and Calvin Abueva calmed the storm with consecutive three-pointers.
The last time that Ateneo threatened was at 67-71 with 1:09 left. But they were not able to budge as Ravena and Tiongson missed their attempts from the arc as time expired.
University of Cebu center Junemar Fajardo made it to the Mythical Five selection along with Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva and San Sebastian’s Ian Sangalang and Abueva. Sangalang was named as the tournament’s MVP.