Jhuniel Dela Rama knocked down two booming triples late to steer San Sebastian College-Recoletos to a 62-61 stunner over league-leading Perpetual in the NCAA Season 101 on Saturday at the Filoil Centre.
The rookie sensation drained the two crucial three-pointers in the final two minutes to bail the Stags out over the ALTAs as they claimed another big win following their 82-81 triumph over Colegio de San Juan de Letran last week.
The embattled Stags improved to 3-7 in Group A to revive their campaign while also snapping Perpetual's four-game winning streak as the ALTas absorbed just their second loss to go 8-2.
"Actually, sa akin naman, ang gusto kong maging mindset every game, whether we win or we lose, ay growth mindset. Whatever we can learn, we have to grow from there," San Sebastian head coach Rob Labagala said.
"I'm really proud of the players. I'm really proud of the team."
Still on a high from their upset win over the Knights, the Stags made sure to give the streaking ALTAs a huge scare as well with Christian Ricio sizzling all game long.
Ricio sank a floater before Ralph Gabat knocked down a jumper that sent San Sebastian to a 56-51 lead midway through the payoff period, forcing the ALTAs to call for a breather.
Perpetual, though, fought back with Patrick Sleat and John Abis converting two quick baskets that turned the game into a one-point affair with 2:19 left.
San Sebastian had the best response as Dela Rama flaunted his offense again, burying a corner three-pointer over the defense of Abis for a 59-55 cushion. JP Boral would complete a three-point play to once again slice the deficit to one, 58-59, in the final 1:43.
Dela Rama hit another long bomb from a hand-off from another rookie star Ian Cuajao, bringing San Sebastian to a 62-58 advantage with 48.1 ticks left.
Boral would pull the trigger from beyond the arc, but it was not enough to rally Perpetual as San Sebastian held on en route to another one-point victory.
Sleat paced Perpetual with 11 points together with five rebounds, four assists, and one steal while LA Casinillo and Boral each finished with eight markers.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
