Stags earn 14th victory the hard way

THE San Sebastian Stags got their 14th win in a row but by the skin of their teeth as they slipped past the Perpetual Help Altas, 77-76, in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament yesterday at the Arena in San Juan City.

The Stags moved a win away from matching their longest winning streak two years ago under then head coach Ato Agustin, but the Altas, who dropped to 3-12 made them bleed for every point. Leading Most Valuable Player candidate and King Stag Calvin Abueva nearly gave the game away when he uncharacteristically missed two free throws in the last 14 seconds and San Sebastian ahead, 77-76.

The Altas had enough time to steal the win, but guard Earl Thompson missed the potential game-winning basket on a wide-open shot after getting past his guard, igniting an on-court celebration from the Stags.

Playing with no pressure at all, the Altas engaged the heavily favored Stags right from the start, and trailed by only a point, 34-33 at the half. The Stags finally put together a run early in the fourth quarter, a 9-0 blitz anchored on Abueva’s string of baskets. But seldom-used Perpetual player Jaycee Asuncion steered the Altas back in the fight, 72-71 with still 4:29 remaining in the fourth.

Another 5-3 run by the Altas finally put them on top, 76-75 with only 1:37 to go. But the Stags quickly regained the lead on Abueva’s two freebies.

Ronald Pascual led the Stags with 27 points and four rebounds while Abueva had a double-double of 22 points, 12 boards and two blocks. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio