Rookie shooting guard Lewis Pasamante struck with 21 points.But it was his defensive play in the dying seconds with teammate Romel Calahat that carried the San Sebastian Staglets to a 67-66 win over the Letran Squires last Tuesday at the Arena in San Juan.
“Depensa lang talaga,” said the 17-year old Pasamante as the Staglets went on to post their seventh win in 13 games in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association junior basketball tournament.
The Squires had two scoring chances in the last two seconds, and moments after Pasamante missed a basket.
Pasamante and Calahat kept Kiefer Cordero from shooting a triple and Kobe Monje from converting a followup as the clock winded down.
With the victory, the Staglets stay in contention for the Final Four seat at fifth place.
They are now within reach of the Squires (8-6), who are in third place.
“Sa huling Segundo, pinaka-importante talaga iyung depensa ni Pasamante,” said Staglets coach Mel Banua.
Alex Desoyo put the Staglets ahead with their game’s final basket when he went for a drive in the last 55.3 seconds.
They were enjoying an 11-point lead in the last eight minutes when the Squires cam rallying back and overtook the Staglets on three charities from Kurt Reyson, 66-65, with 1:07 to go.
Reyson went on to finish with 12 points while Neil Tolentino and Enoch Valdez banged in 10 apiece.