THE San Sebastian Stags are on a roll, claiming their third straight win with another stunner Friday in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
This time around, the Stags got away with a close 69-67 stopping of the Mapua Cardinals, a triumph which kept their flickering Final Four hopes alive.
It was their fourth win against nine losses, while the Cardinals dropped to third at 7-5.
The Stags, who charged back from an 18-point deficit early in the second quarter, finally overtook the Cards off Regille Ilagan’s three pointer with under a minute left, 66-64.
Then, Allyn Bulanadi hit a layup for the Stags afterwards, before Mapua’s Darell Menina’s triple kept the Cardinals to within one, 68-67.
Ryan Costelo scored a charity for the Stags to finalize the count in their favor a few seconds later.
Mapua had a chance to catch up, but a passing error by Allwell Oraeme to CJ Isit ended the Cardinals’ bid.
“The good thing about this is the character is building up. Nag-pay off na lahat ng hard work ng mga players,” said Stags’ coach Egay Macaraya.
It was the Stags’ third straight win, with the other two coming off their victories of University Perpetual Help and and San Beda.
Davon Potts shot 23 points, while big man Benedict Adamson drilled in 18 and had nine rebounds to lead the San Beda Red Lions to an 83-71 subduing of the defending champion Letran Knights.
The 11th triumph in 13 game kept the Red Lions in the solo lead.