MANILA -- San Sebastian tightened its defense in the fourth quarter while leaning on sweet shooting Jimbo Aquino as it shocked three-peat titlist San Beda, 76-61, Saturday to nail its first crown in seven years in Season 85 of the NCAA before a predominantly Lions crowd at the Big Dome.
Aquino unloaded 15 of his 16 points in the second half including 10 in the fourth quarter when the Stags held the Lions to just 5 foul shots. This ended the Stags’ seven-year title frustration, snaring their 12th title overall.
San Sebastian, which owns a rare five-peat feat from 1993-97, is now 2 wins closer from tying San Beda and former NCAA member Ateneo with 14 crowns apiece, and 4 wins closer to Letran’s league-best 16 championships.
It also marked the third straight time that the Stags beat the Lions in the finals since the former beat the latter in the championship series of 1996 and 1997.
The Stags were already celebrating as early as two minutes remaining in the game after leading 69-58 and the Lions missing almost every shot they attempted from the field and the foul line.
The Lions, consoled by legions of their red-clad fans, including league president and San Beda rector Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, were on the other side, some stunned while most of them crying for their failure to win the school their first ever four-peat feat.
“I’m happy we won on my first year,” said Ato Agustin, who duplicated the feat accomplished by San Beda mentor Frankie Lim when he steered the Lions to the 2007 title in his rookie season.
Aquino, who spewed 24 points in a 72-68 triumph in Thursday’s opener, bagged the Finals MVP, which came as a reprieve after he was stripped of a place in the Mythical Five for a disqualification foul he incurred in an elimination round loss, ironically against San Beda.
“It’s really, really sweet,” said the soft-spoken team captain, playing his fifth and last season.
Gilbert Bulawan and Ronald Pascual scattered 15 and 12 points, respectively, while John Raymundo had 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds to help the cause.
Calvin Abueva, who had a monster effort in Game One with 10 points, 23 boards and five blocks, was hobbled by foul trouble but still finished with five points including a clutch tip in a crucial run in the fourth quarter.
Lim, for his part, was all praise on the Stags.
“I have to give it to coach Ato (Agustin) and the Stags, they are not expected to be in the finals and they wiped us out,” said Lim, who suffered his first finals loss since helping win the Mendiola-based school to the last two of its three-peat feat.
The Lions led by as much as 10 points in the first half but were slowed down in the third period although they still held a 56-54 advantage.
And then the Stags’ defense came and Aquino found his guns ablaze.
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