FilOil: San Sebastian notches first win, keeps Southwestern U. winless

(Updated 5:10pm) The San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags evened their record in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup, defeating the winless Southwestern University Cobras, 84-73, Monday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena. The Cobras, hailing from Cebu's CESAFI league, showed progress in getting acclimated to the level of competition in the Manila-based tourney. But Leo De Vera and the rest of the Stags were there to fend off Southwestern U's rallies, turning them away at key moments and leading by no less than four points in the second half to keep the win. The Stags now sport a 1-1 record, while Southwestern U has lost all four of their games so far in Group B play. Jon Rebollos led all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting. De Vera added 18 points, while Jovit Dela Cruz had 13 points and six assists. Raffy Gusi notched 11 markers, while Jaymark Perez had 10 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. We're trying out our wing combinations since this is what's left of our team from last year. We're a bunch of no-namers and it's something we take pride in," said Stags head coach Topex Robinson. Last year, San Sebastian graduated its "Pinatubo Trio," the core group of Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual, which led them back to relevance in the last half-decade in the NCAA. "Jon [Rebollos] has been around for a long time, but again it's about the team. We're just trying to prove to the basketball community that San Sebastian is here to compete," the former PBA player and current Alaska Aces assistant said. Robinson added that he hopes to carve out an identity for the team as a hardworking group that competes against all odds. "I always tell them to check on my story. I wasn't gifted skill-wise, but it's all about hard work and the determination to compete. They're here not because we lost someone else, but they're here because they deserve to be here." The Cobras held the momentum in the first quarter, making progress with Landry Sanjo in the post. Though they didn't fare well with their transition attacks, the center anchored Southwestern U with six points as they held a 9-6 lead. San Sebastian got the Cobras in foul trouble with under four minutes to play and capitalized from the line. Jaymark Perez added a couple of breakaway lay-ups as well, as the Stags poured on eight unanswered points. However, the San Sebastian struggled to close out the last two minutes with a line-up featuring reserves, as Fabrice Siewe got an and-one putback, leading the Cobras to knot the game after the first period, 16-all. Southwestern U's miscues early in the second quarter proved costly, as the Stags were quick to run out off misses and turnovers. SSC-R was also able to get inside using their halfcourt sets, as a drive by Jon Rebollos capped a 10-2 run, 26-18. Melvin Holper checked in halfway through the quarter and provided instant offense for the Cobras, draining a three-pointer to lead them in a shoot-out against the Stags. Rebollos and Leo De Vera replied for San Sebastian, but a halfcourt presence improved Southwestern U's fortunes greatly, as Holper knocked down his second trey to get within one, 39-38, with under two minutes to play. This time, the Stags took care of business, as they pushed the pace for a 10-0 run, including six points by Gusi, to take a 49-38 advantage at the half. After two quarters, the Stags had a 15-4 margin in turnover points, thanks to an 8-15 turnover difference. Holper had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in six minutes of play to lead the Cobras. While on the other bench, Rebollos led San Sebastian with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. In the third quarter, the Stags seemed to get to the rim at will, as De Vera dropped seven points in a 9-2 run for his squad. The Cobras tried a change of pace and went back to Sanjo around the key, and the big man responded with six in a 7-2 run, 60-48. San Sebastian offset the Cobras' forays inside with their outside shooting, as Perez and Raffy Gusi each drained a triple in the last four minutes to keep Southwestern U at bay after three quarters, 68-57. The Cobras carried their momentum into the fourth quarter, as Mark Panerio and Holper made triples to help cut the lead to five, 70-65. However, San Sebastian took advantage of the Cobras' turnovers, and another trey by De Vera buoyed a 76-67 tally for the Stags. Southwestern U continued to struggle with turnovers and giving up fouls, as charities by Guinto and Rebollos made it a 78-67 game with less than four minutes to play. Monbert Arong gave the Cobras some hope as he nailed a trey with three and a half minutes remaining, but Rebollos stepped up and nailed two from beyond the arc as well, offsetting another trey by the Cobras' Adam Mohammed, 84-73, with two minutes to play. The Stags shot 10-of-24 from beyond the arc en route to a 29-of-70 mark for the game (41 percent). The Cobras made 10-of-23 from range and finished 27-of-64 overall (42 percent). San Sebastian lost the rebounding battle (54-37), but led in fast break points (21-2) and turnover points (21-4). Landry Sanjo led the Cobras with 16 points and eight rebounds. Melvin Holper added 15 points and five boards, finishing 6-of-10 from the field. Monbert Arong rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points and six rebounds. - AMD / RAF, GMA News The scores: