Basketball
Abueva returns as San Sebastian faces Saint Benilde; Perpetual, JRU clash
AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan
The San Sebastian Stags will try to keep the ball rolling when they face the College of Saint Benilde Blazers at 4 p.m. in Season 88 action of the NCAA at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
San Sebastian will be headed by interim coach Allan Trinidad for the third straight game while reigning MVP Calvin Abueva will mark his return to the hardcourt after a one-game suspension.
‘The Beast’, as he is fondly called, will have all eyes on him as he is expected to come out and pour out his frustration after being forced to sit out their game against Arellano.
San Sebastian, though, hardly felt Abueva’s absence as Ian Sangalang took over in their last game with 22 points and 14 rebounds. With the resurgent Ronald Pascual back in form after posting 18 points in their last outing, the Stags will be deadlier than ever when they come out with a complete lineup against Saint Benilde.
The Blazers are coming off a convincing 87-73 victory over the Lyceum Pirates last week. It was closely fought match until the third period before Benilde pulled away for good in the final period. Paolo Taha and Carlo Lastimosa teamed up for the scoring attack of the Blazers that paved the way for a lopsided fourth quarter.
San Sebastian is seeking their tenth win against three setbacks. A win will give them solo second behind pace-setting San Beda with a 10-2 card. The Blazers will try to clinch win #5 in order to break free from a triple tie at the 7th-9th spots with EAC and Arellano with similar 4-8 win-loss records.
In the main game, an exciting match between the Perpetual Help Altas and JRU Heavy Bombers is expected to take place at 6 p.m. JRU is currently occupying the third spot with Perpetual just half-a-game behind at fourth.
The Heavy Bombers barely escaped the Altas, 64-59, in a tightly fought game in their first meeting last July 23.
Jett Vidal is expected to deliver his usual endgame heroics, which he done consistently this season.
JRU coach Vergel Meneses is in high hopes that Byron Villarias and Nate Matute can likewise deliver as they try to clinch their ninth win.
