San Sebastian College Recoletos Golden Stags

San Sebastian will go into the 90th NCAA basketball tournament hard-pressed to match if not surpass its third place finish last year despite losing some key players entering the season.

For San Sebastian mentor Topex Robinson, he will need his veterans – Jovit dela Cruz, Jamil Ortuoste, Bradwyn Guinto, Jaymar Perez and Bobby Baculanag – to step up and serve as good examples to the younger players.

After all, half of Robinson's team this year are rookies – Earvin Alvarez, Michael Calisaan, Ryan Costelo, Jerick Fabian, Justin Mercado, Spencer Petta, Jeffrey Santos and Rhanzelle Yong.

"I lost some key players last year so I will need my veteran players to be shining examples to my younger guys," said Robinson.

Robinson also said his team is used to this kind of situation as they also came in as a rookie-laden team after losing their "Pinatubo Three" of Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual but went on to defy expectations by gate-crashing into the Final Four and finishing third.

"We've been in this kind of situation last year and we did okay. We just need to play as a team and have faith on the system for us to be okay again this season," he said. – Joey Villar

Roster

1. Aquino, Eulo Ryan A.
2. Alvarez, Earvin Oliver C.
3. Balucanag, Bobby J.
4. Calisaan, Michael D.
5. Camasura, Israel Ivan S.
6. Costelo, Ryan Paule A.
7. Dela Cruz, Jovit D.
8. Fabian, Jerick A.
9. Guinto, Bradwyn M.
10. Mercado, Justine Louie C.
11. Ortuoste, Jon Kervin P.
12. Perez, Jaymar G.
13. Pretta, Spencer C.
14. Santos, Jeffrey S.
15. Yong, Rhanzelle M.