RK Ilagan led San Sebastian College with 22 points until he fouled in the extra period.
And with Ilagan sitting on the bench in the remaining time, his teammates led by Allyn Bulanadi, Alvin Capobres and Ken Villapando took charge and propelled the Stags to a 102-101 overtime win over the Letran Knights yesterday in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
Bulanadi shot 21 points, including a driving shot in the final 3:38, which pulled the Stags out of a 93-all deadlock and helped the team notch its third win in six games.
“Mas gutom sa panalo ang mga bata,” said Stags’ assistant coach Melo Banuea, who called the shots with Egay Macaraya suspended for a game.
Meanwhile, Rey Peralta unloaded 21 points to help lift the University of Perpetual Help Altas to an 88-87 beating of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, their third triumph in eight outings.
Benedict Adamson knocked in the winning shot with 48.7 seconds, 88-84, and the Altas weathered a late rally in the remaining time, handed them their first triumph under interim coach Myk Saguiguit.
It was the Altas’ first game without head coach Frankie Lim, who is on leave.
Capobres drilled in 19 points, including a split charity tying the count for the last time, 99-all, in the final 1:22.
Larry Muyang tallied 32 points for the Knights, who now have a 5-3 win-loss slate in third.
It was Muyang’s layup with 48.3 seconds to go which allowed Letran to take the lead for the last time, 101-100. A free throw and a driving shot from an open Villapando with 18.5 ticks to go allowed the Stags to grab the lead at 102-101.
Villapando’s defense on Knights’ cager Edson Batiller kept Letran from nailing a final shot.
Muyang’s charity in the final 16.1 seconds, followed by a miss from Capobres as time winded down put the game in overtime, 91-all.
In junior action, Lenard Santiago fired 14 points for the Letran Squires, who upended the San Sebastian Staglets, 72-64, and improved to 4-5 with the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas.
John Escalante banged in 21 points for the Junior Altas, who climbed to a share of fifth with the Squires after beating the EAC Brigadiers, 71-70.