THE San Sebastian Staglets still have a fighting chance to make it to the Final Four semifinals of the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament.
And their last games will decide their chances in coming up with their best finish in four years.
Staglets coach Melo Banua said this after the Staglets stopped the Lyceum Junior Pirates, 101-91, in double overtime last Friday at the Arena in San Juan.
“May chance pa kami. May four games pa,” said Banua.
Their next four games will be against the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, the Arellano University Braves, the defending champion Malayan Red Robins and the Perpetual Help Junior Altas.
The Staglets last reached the Final Four in Season 89.
In their game last Friday, two guards, Daniel Rodriguez and Lewis Pasamante, scored a pair of triples in the last 1:16. Their baskets helped send the Staglets to their eighth win in 14 games.
The Staglets, with Damie Cuntapay among three players scoring in double digits with his 26 points and 19 rebounds, improved their chances of reaching the Final Four with their 8-6 win-loss record.
This put the Staglets in fifth place behind the Letran Squires (9-6), who also won in overtime over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers, 86-85.
The Staglets latest victory endangered the chances of the San Beda Red Cubs, who are still up with their 9-5 card in third.
Alex Desoyo, who made 19, first moved the Staglets ahead with Cuntapay with their drive and three-point play, 92-86.
In the next two plays, Rodriguez and Pasamante’s treys connected, sending the Staglets to a 98-86 lead in the last 1:16.
John Barba, who had 27 points for the Junior Pirates, pushed the match into the second overtime with his triple, 82-all. Peter Atencio
In the regulation period, Vincent Cunanan drove in in the final 40 seconds to tie the match, 66-all.
