SSC, San Beda, FEU gain semis

MANILA, Philippines – San Sebastian College recovered in time to repulse a rallying Adamson, 82-69, and barge into the semifinal round of the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena yesterday.

The Stags nearly squandered a 19-point lead as the Falcons came threateningly close at 66-69 with still 5:29 remaining in the contest. But Jimbo Aquino, Calvin Abueva and Jonathan Semira combined in a 10-0 blitz as the Recoletos-based squad sped to another double-digit spread en route to victory.

The win netted San Sebastian a spot in the Final Four against early semifinalist the University of the East while denying Adamson a second straight semis appearance.

Far Eastern U, with Mark Barroca on the firing end, blasted Jose Rizal U, 76-61, while San Beda routed La Salle, 70-49, to likewise advance to the semis round.

Barroca poured in 11 of his 25 points in the third quarter as the Tams stretched a 47-44 lead into a commanding 57-44 bulge heading into the fourth.

The 5-8 Barroca scored eight points in the first quarter but was held to just two in the second before exploding at resumption of the contest to spearhead the Tams’ breakaway.

“The boys relaxed a bit in the fourth quarter but they didn’t give up,” said rookie coach Ato Agustin.

The Stags broke away from a 15-all count to post a 44-25 lead at the turn as Dexter Maiquez scored 10 of his 14 points and Aquino added seven points in that big SSC run.

The Falcons, behind Roider Cabrera’s 11-point splurge, cut the lead down to 11 at the end of the third, 50-61 and kept the pressure into the fourth to close within three.

Aquino and Maiquez each finished with 14 points while Abueva and Ian Sangalang had 13 and 11 points, respectively for SSC.