ALLYN Bulanadi hit a go-ahead jumper with 3.8 seconds remaining to help San Sebastian College pull off a shocking 72-71 win over San Beda College in Season 92 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors men’s basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.
Trailing 68-71, Bulanadi first drained two charities to cut the lead by one, 70-71, with 11.1 seconds left in the game. The Stags were forced to foul Red Lions guard Dan Sara in the next possession, but the San Beda team skipper muffed both free throws, giving San Sebastian a chance to steal the game.
Bulanadi then rushed to the floor, pulled the trigger and swished in the cold-blooded dagger just inside the three-point line to grab the lead at 72-71.
The Red Lions still have time for a shot but a costly kickball violation from Robert Bolick sealed the upset victory for San Sebastian.
“The boys never gave up. I’m very happy because they are showing the character and they really wanted to win,” said Head Coach Egay Macaraya, whose wards improved to 3-9 won-loss record, winning their second straight game after another gallant performance against Perpetual last week.
The late-game heroics of the 6-foot-2 Bulanadi shadowed his miscue a few moments before his game-winning shot, when he turned the ball over in an inbounds play that led to a transition basket of Davon Potts, which gave San Beda a 71-68 lead with 23.7 seconds remaining.
“Gusto ko pong makabawi kasi may error ako. Nasa isip ko talaga na i-shoot na ‘yung bola. Hindi na po ako nag-hesitate kasi karamihan sa mga teammate ko may depensa na,” Bulanadi said.
The 19-year-old wingman finished with a game-high 16 points and six rebounds. Alvin Capobres added 13 points, while Michael Calisaan had 11 markers and 10 boards.
Despite playing without its Cameroonian big man Donald Tankoua, he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in their game against Emilio Aguinaldo College, San Beda almost stole the show when it fought back from a 27-37 hole in halftime to a 58-47 turnaround entering the final frame.
Javee Mocon and Sara conspired for a 31-10 scoring onslaught in the third period, but they came up short in stopping the mighty rally of the Stags in the fourth quarter. Mocon led San Beda with 15 points and 10 reboudns, while Sara had 12 markers. The Red Lions fell to a 10-2 slate.
In the second game, reigning Most Valuable Player Allwell Oraeme provided the muscle, while Andrew Estrella gave the finishing touches as Mapùa trounced Lyceum, 90-75, to stay on the hunt for a Final Four spot with a 7-4 slate.
Oraeme tallied monster numbers of 27 points and 25 rebounds, while Estrella knocked down two key triples in the 12-2 run midway into the fourth canto to fend off the repeated rallies of the Pirates and seal the game away.
Oraema got big contributions from his supporting cast, as Carlos Isit finished with 19 points and Laurenz Victoria with 15, while Estrella had 12 markers.
Lyceum fell to a 5-6 win-loss record.
Image credits: Alysa Salen