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'Tower of power' Ballesteros, Stags edge Cards, 64-62 |
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Source : Staff
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Friday, 08 August 2008 13:25 |
Call San Sebastian beanpole Jason Ballesteros college basketball’s sultan of swats.
Drawing strength from the 6’7” Ballesteros’ monster effort, the Stags turned back the Mapua Tech Cardinals, 64-62, Friday to gatecrash into the magic four in Season 84 of the NCAA senior basketball tournament at the Astrodome.
Ballesteros, a 22-year-old native of Pangasinan, churned out game-highs 12 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks including one in the with a fraction of a second to go when he averted overtime by swatting away an Allan Mangahas lay-up.
“It’s my role in this team, to defend, block some shots,” said Ballesteros, who honed his skills playing in the Philippine Basketball League, in Filipino.
The win sent the Stags to their fourth straight victory and fifth overall in nine outings to jump from No. 5 to No. 4.
And San Sebastian had Ballesteros to thank for.
During the four-game streak, Ballesteros, who idolizes future Hall of Famer the Houston Rockets’ Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, 16.5 boards, 7.5 points and a whopping 5.25 blocks a game.
“We’re not expecting Jason to score, its his defense that we needed most,” said San Sebastian coach Jorge Gallent, owner of a rare five-peat feat in the PBL.
Reigning MVP Kelvin dela Pena suited for the Cardinals after missing one game but he was obviously still bothered by the back spasms he sustained three weeks back and finished with just seven points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds in 25 minutes he was on the court.
That took its toll on the Cardinals, who blew a 13-point second quarter lead to absorb a third straight setback and fourth overall against the same number of wins.
Bombers 51, Altas 48
In the second game, Jose Rizal U went to its defense when its offense turned sour as it brushed back Perpetual Help, 51-48, in a game that set season records in scoring futility.
The Bombers forced the Altas to miss 47 of the 61 shots the latter took that proved enough to clinch the former a sixth straight win after starting the year with two defeats in a row.
“It was ugly, but we’ll take it,” said Jose Rizal mentor Ariel Vanguardia, whose six-game streak was the longest in his three years with the Kalentong-based school.
So nightmarish was the Bombers’ shooting that none of them finished the games in double figures with John Wilson leading the way with nine points.
Jose Rizal’s final output and the score of the two teams combined were the lowest of the year.
Of course, that is not counting the 20-0 “boardroom” victory by St. Benilde over back-to-back champion San Beda.
Thankfully, Perpetual Help was worse.
“Our shooting was really horrible, fortunately our defense was there,” said Vanguardia.
While Jose Rizal went six straight matches without a loss, Perpetual Help dropped seven straight games without a win that came months after it stunned San Sebastian in the opener.
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