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SAN SEBASTIAN big man Jason Ballesteros is showing why he’s become the most dominant defensive player in the 84th NCAA seniors basketball tournament.

The 6’8â€? center swatted away Allan Mangahas’ potential game-tying basket and helped preserve the Stags’ 64-62 victory over Mapua Institute of Technology last August 8, 2008 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Aiding Ballesteros on the offensive end was rookie Raymond Maconocido, whose two straight baskets, including the game-winning lay-up with 16.7 seconds left, gave the Stags their fourth consecutive victory, helping them overtake their opponents at solo fourth with a 5-4 record.

“Without Jason, my shot would end up [at] nothing,� said Maconocido, who also played college ball at University of San Jose-Recoletos and Olivarez College. “We just need to be like this all the time to make it to the final four.�

Trailing by one, 60-61, with a minute left, Maconocido scored on a jumper to push the Stags to a 62-61 lead with only 42 seconds left.

Cardinals center Mark Sarangay, who was fouled by Ballesteros, then split his free throws with 32 seconds to play before the Cebuano playmaker drilled in the go-ahead basket.

“We played together as a team and that’s really good for us in our efforts to reach the Final Four,� San Sebastian coach Jorge Gallent said. “Dave Najorda and Raymond also did a good job, especially on defense.�

Ballesteros’ pivotal block was one of six in the game to go along with 12 points and 19 rebounds in 34 minutes of action. SSC-R leading scorer Jim Viray finished with 11 markers.

The Stags bounced back from an 80-86 defeat they absorbed at the hands of Mapua in their first meeting last July 6.

“At least, we exacted revenge against them [Mapua],� Gallent said. “The boys executed well our gameplan and that was the big factor in our victory. I’m hoping we can bring the same intensity in our next game.�

Sophomore guard Jonathan Banal paced the Cardinals with 11 points, while last season’s MVP Kevin dela Peña, who suffered a back injury in his squad’s last game against Jose Rizal University, struggled to notch seven points.

The Cardinals, after starting the season at 4-1, have now lost three straight games.

Gallent’s wards had to overcome a 13-point second quarter deficit, 21-34, to steal the game away from Season 84’s hosts.

San Sebastian outrebounded Mapua, 52-39, and in the process scored more second chance points than the boys from Intramuros (13-10).

The scores:

San Sebastian 64 – Ballesteros 12, Viray 11, Raymundo 8, Saquillo 8, Maconocido 6, Aquino 5, Zulueta 5, Najorda 4, Delgado 3, del Rio 2, Bulawan 0.

Mapua 62 – Banal 11, Mangahas 9, N. Pascual 9, Mazo 7, dela Peña 7, Sarangay 6, Cornejo 6, Acosta 5, J. Pascual 2, Soriano 0.

Quarter scores: 18-23; 29-37; 49-48; 64-62

Tags: Jason-Ballesteros, Mapua-Cardinals, NCAA-Season-84, Petron, San-Sebastian-Stags

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