SSC repulses JRU in OT, gains juniors final

Three-peat champion San Sebastian struck hard in overtime as the Staglets turned back the Jose Rizal Light Bombers, 97-88, yesterday to sweep their way to the finals of the NCAA high school basketball tournament at the Astrodome.

Arvie Bringas, playing on his last season, scored eight of his 29 points in extension to power the Staglets to a rousing 12-game sweep of the double round elims.

That sent SSC straight to the finals with the Staglets needing just a win to complete a rare four-peat championship.

“We’re happy for the sweep because we’re not going through the Final Four anymore,” said San Sebastian coach Raymond Valenzona.

In the other game, St. Benilde ousted San Beda, 77-68, to grab the fourth semifinal spot.

It was the first time that the Red Cubs were knocked out of the top four since 1977.

While Bringas took care of the scoring chores, the rest of the Staglets alternated in holding Keith Agovida to 21 points, keeping him away off his comfort zone majority of the game.

The 6-1 Agovida hit a record-setting 82-point output in leading Jose Rizal U to a 127-49 rout over Mapua last Friday.

“We allowed him to play his game, we just took some of his rebounds and inside points,” said Valenzona of the JRU gunner, who came into the match with a 35- point norm.

Agovida missed 18 of the 25 shots after going 36-of-50 from the field against Mapua.