Mark De Leon and Stephen Jardinico conspired in the endgame to steer San Sebastian College-Recoletos to an 84-69 win over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball tournament on Wednesday.
19-year-old De Leon poured in a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds to go along with five assists and two steals while Jardinico provided a significant contribution of 18 markers, four boards, two dimes, and one block.
San Sebastian has now won four games in a row, forging a tie with College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills at 5-2 while Perpetual sank to 3-4.
Carrying a 42-34 halftime lead, the Staglets received a huge challenge from the Junior Altas who rallied from that deficit to pull to within four in late in the third period, 58-54, before Bandino's free throw saw San Sebastian lead by six ahead of the fourth, 61-55.
De Leon and Jardinico then fueled a 7-0 run to open the payoff period, 68-55, as Henry Montemayor tried to swing the momentum back to Perpetual courtesy of a triple from him, 73-67, with four minutes left.
Rion Porcadas then joined in on the shooting barrage, nailing two three-pointers as part of a 10-0 rampage as the Staglets' lead ballooned to 14, 83-69. Jardinico put on the finishing kick with a split from the charity line.
Porcadas was also in a double-double mark as he finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
