San Sebastian College-Recoletos snapped its slump in the NCAA Season 101 juniors basketball tournament, leaning on Mark Esperanza to turn back the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 67–64, on Saturday.
The young star dropped a game-high 27 points that he spiked with four rebounds, two steals, and one assist as the Staglets broke a five-game slide and improved to 2-8 in Group A.
With Esperanza fronting the fight, the Staglets ended the defending champions’ two-game surge as the Junior ALTAs fell to 6-4 in the same group.
The Staglets seized a comfortable 63-48 lead in the fourth period when Angelo Aninipot split his freebies with 2:49 left to play.
But the Las Piñas crew turned to Jim Corpuz, who fueled a personal 14-0 run highlighted by four straight three-pointers, to pull within a point with 25 seconds to go, 62-63.
Esperanza, though, capitalized on the charity stripe and sank three free throws in the endgame to seal the huge victory for the Staglets.
Before this game, wins proved hard to fall through for San Sebastian after bowing to JRU, EAC, LSGH, San Beda, and Letran.
Browyn Tepan provided the support with 13 points and eight rebounds while Joshua Scott posted a double-double effort of 12 markers and 10 boards.
Corpuz tallied 21 points while also grabbing seven steals, three rebounds, and two steals while Kurt Velasquez chipped in 12 markers, four boards, and four assists.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
