NCAA: Stags turn back Altas; Bombers nip Chiefs

For defending champion San Sebastian, comebacks are now becoming one of their trademarks for success. For the second straight game, the Stags found themselves pushed to the brink of defeat, but found a way to win. Behind Calvin Abueva and Pamboy Raymundo, the Stags dumped the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 72-63, in the 86th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan. The Stags fought back from a 10-point deficit in the second quarter and needed a strong fourth period to register their 11th win in 12 outings. San Sebastian is still in second place behind unbeaten San Beda (11-0). Abueva, playing tooth-and-nail with the Lions' Sudan Daniel for the coveted Most Valuable Player, registered 14 points, 19 rebounds, two assists and three blocks, while Raymundo added 14 points, four rebounds and six assists. Coach Ato Agustin's wards were coming off a 63-59 win over Jose Rizal University on Wednesday in a game when they needed to overcome a 13-point, fourth quarter deficit. The Altas remained winless after 11 games. They have a 20-game losing skein dating back the start of the last season's second round eliminations. In the other game, JRU drew a solid game from Cameroonian John Njei, who powered the Heavy Bombers to an inspiring 67-64 triumph over the Arellano University Chiefs. Njei produced 13 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks and a defensive stop to boot as the Heavy Bombers moved a win away of claiming a spot in the Final Four. Njei prevented Arellano's Adrian Celada from sending the game into overtime as he forced the Chief’s top gun to miss a last-second attempt from beyond the arc. Celada came away with 30 points, 24 in the second half, including five triples. His sizzling performance enabled the Chiefs to come back from 48-59 down in the third quarter. But the Chiefs failed short on their comeback bid as they suffered their eighth setback in 12 matches and fell into a tie with the St. Benilde Blazers in sixth spot. - RCJ, GMANews.TV