By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE SAN SEBASTIAN Stags split their season series with the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers in National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 after taking their second-round encounter, 83-67, on Thursday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Finished at the raw end in their maiden encounter in the opening round, the Stags (7-3) avoided falling for a second straight time against the Blazers (6-4), banking on steady solid shooting to open their second-round bid on a winning note.

Things got off in a shoot-fest with the teams finding their mark from beyond the arc.

The count stood at 13-10 with 5:32 to go in the opening quarter and San Sebastian on top before the latter, led by RK Ilagan, finished the frame with a 15-10 run to hold a 28-20 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.

CSB got some traction back to begin the second quarter with Justin Gutang and Yankie Haruna on the firing end, coming to within two points, 33-31, with 4:30 to go in the frame.

But the San Sebastian trio of Ilagan, Allyn Bulanadi and Alvin Capobres would lead a 9-0 run in the next two minutes and a half to stretch the gap to 11 points, 42-31.

The Blazers tried to reclaim some land back but with little success as the Stags maintained control, 48-39, at halftime.

San Sebastian kept its hot shooting to begin the third canto, opening with a 5-0 run to build a 52-39 advantage with just four minutes lapsing.

It was a streak it would capitalize on for the rest of the quarter as it fended off any CSB rally to hold a 68-50 lead heading into the payoff quarter.

Sensing they had the Blazers on the ropes, the Stags went for an early kill.

Bulanadi and the Stags opened the fourth quarter with a 10-3 blast to make it a 25-point lead, 78-53, with six minutes left.

CSB made attempts to salvage the game but no comeback would be completed as San Sebastian showed no let-up on its way to bagging the win.

Bulanadi top-scored in the big win of the Stags, finishing with a career-high 32 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Ilagan had 13 and Capobres 12 for San Sebastian, which has now won five straight games. For CSB it was Haruna who led with 16 points.

Meanwhile games today (Sept. 13) will see the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers (3-7) battle the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (1-9) at 12 noon followed by the Letran Knights (7-3) against the Mapua Cardinals (3-6) at 2 p.m. and the San Beda Red Lions (10-0) and Arellano Chiefs (2-8) at 4 p.m. Venue is the FilOil Flying V Centre.

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