Stags, Saints keep finals hopes alive

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AFTER three tries, Apex Fuel-San Sebastian College has finally found ways to hurdle Marinerong Pilipino.

Showing poise when it mattered most, the Golden Stags sunk the Skippers yesterday 82-74 in Game 2 to forge a knockout match in their best-of-3 semifinals battle in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

An Alex Desoyo layup gave Apex Fuel-San Sebastian a 78-71 lead with still 2:07 left but Marinerong Pilipino’s Arvin Gamboa sliced the deficit to 74-78 with a three-pointer, 1:11 to go.

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But the Stags held their ground the rest of the way, with an Ichie Altamirano basket and two free throws from Rafael Are in the final 33.0 ticks sealing their breakthrough triumph against the Skippers after a 74-86 loss in the eliminations last July 9 and dropping a 66-74 defeat in Game 1 of their race-to-2 showdown three days ago.

Romel Calahat notched a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds for Apex Fuel-San Sebastian, while Jessie Sumoda chipped in 14 markers and eight boards.

Altamirano also had 13 points, while Desoyo and Are combined for 20 for the Stags.

In the other game, Adalem Construction-St. Clare turned back EcoOil-La Salle 72-64 in Game 2 to also stay alive in the season-opening tourney.

NAASCU MVP Johnsherick Estrada poured 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, on top of six rebounds, and three assists for the Saints, while Joshua Fontanilla added 21 points, seven of them coming in the fourth, and three caroms.

The win atoned Adalem Construction-St. Clare’s 74-89 setback at the hands of the Green Archers in the series opener last Friday.

The do-or-die tiffs are set on Wednesday also at the Big Dome.

Apex Fuel-San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya said his wards were determined to prove their worth as the No. 1 team after the eliminations and to do that, they have to beat Marinerong Pilipino.

“Credit to the boys kasi nakita naman natin kung gaano kahirap talunin ang Marinero, all-star sila and malakas talaga but my players’ effort as I’ve said, they work hard and good things will happen,” Macaraya said.

“I think we have proven that being the top seed after the eliminations is no fluke kasi natalo namin iyong Marinero, isa sa tumalo sa akin sa eliminations — that was the bottom line and battle cry of the boys in Game 2,” he added.

The Stags grabbed a 35-34 cushion at the half and still enjoyed a 60-58 buffer going into the payoff period.

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