Basketball
Abueva posts 21-20-10 as San Sebastian crushes Mapua
InterAKTV/Justin Gener
A huge triple-double from Calvin ‘The Beast’ Abueva paved the way for San Sebastian to get some revenge on the Mapua Cardinals, 77-62, in Season 88 action of the NCAA at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Abueva registered 21 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. He also had two steals and three blocks as he led the Stags to their eleventh win to stay at solo second in the standings with an 11-3 card.
The Cardinals fell to 5-9, putting their chances of making the final four in limbo.
In the first half, Mapua led by as much as 14, 24-10, early in the second period, off a long distance connection from Joseph Eriobu. San Sebastian’s Dexter Maiquez was ejected from the playing court in the first half for throwing a punch at Mapua’s Andretti Stevens.
Mike Parala opened up the third with a bucket the gave the Cardinals another nine-point spread, 34-25.
With Mapua in the driver’s seat, 50-47, in the last two minutes of the third, San Sebastian caught fire as reigning MVP Abueva led the Stags to a 10-0 run that gave San Sebastian a seven-point edge at the end of three quarters.
“Nag-adjust kami. Masyadong relaxed nung first half,” said San Sebastian interim coach Allan Trinidad. “We played unselfish basketball in the second half.”
The Cardinals were within striking distance until the 6:36 mark of the fourth when Gab Banal buried a jumper to come to within five, 56-61.
But Ian Sangalang and Abueva teamed up in the endgame, combining for 13 points down the stretch.
“Nagtulungan lang kami at dumepensa para makabawi kami in the second half,” said Abueva.
The 21-year-old Ian Sangalang paced the Stags with 28 markers and ten boards.
The Scores:
San Sebastian (77) — Sangalang 28, Abueva 21, Miranda 9, Pascual 7, Juico 6, Antipuesto 3, Dela Cruz 2, Rebollos 1, Gusi 0, Vitug 0, Maiquez 0.
Mapua (62) — Nimes 17, Parala 14, G. Banal 12, Cantos 6, Brana 4, Eriobu 3, Ighalo 3, J. Banal 3, Saitanan 0, Stevens 0.
Quarterscores: 10-18, 25-32, 57-50, 77-62.
