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NCAA: Calisaan, Costelo tow San Sebastian into semis

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/10/24/ncaa-2017-102417.jpg"/><figcaption>Michael Calisaan fired a career-best 36 points to lift San Sebastian to the next phase of the stepladder semifinals. Arvin Lim, <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/basketball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – For the first time since 2013, San Sebastian College through to the semifinals of the NCAA men&#x27;s basketball tournament.Thanks to a career-best effort from big man Michael Calisaan, and a clutch performance from diminutive point guard Ryan Costelo, San Sebastian outlasted a gritty Colegio de SanJuan de Letran, 74-69, on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.With the last spot in the stepladder semifinals on the line, it was the Golden Stags who came up with the biggest plays on both ends of the floor as they made sure to extend their campaign in the NCAA Season 93 men&#x27;s basketball tournament.&quot;Deserving ang mga bata,&quot; said San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya, who also celebrated his 56th birthday on Tuesday. &quot;Sa nilalaro nila ngayon, I think we deserve to be in the Final Four.&quot;&quot;Ang problema kasi namin sa Baste, one of our concerns is wala kaming import, and medyo maliit talaga kami. But hindi matanggal ang puso nila, ang character, and &#x27;yung desire to win, na makapasok sa Final 4,&quot; he added.&quot;They deserve it right now. Hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy na.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/news/2017/10/24/cagulangan-brings-jr-blazers-back-life-time-f4-32672">READ: Cagulangan brings Jr. Blazers back to life in time for Final Four</a></li></ul>Calisaan was unstoppable all game long, as the 6-foot-3 big man fired 36 points on 14 of 22 shooting, while also grabbing 10 rebounds. He also hit the proverbial dagger, knocking down a three-pointer with 18.3 seconds left to put the game away.Costelo was also a hero for the Golden Stags, as he scored nine of his 13 points in the final four minutes and 22 seconds, including the floater that pushed San Sebastian ahead for good with 44.9 seconds left to play.&quot;These two guys are my veterans, and pinakita nila sa laro nila,&quot; Macaraya said in praise of his stars.<div>Back-and-forth battle</div>The Knights already survived two knockout games in the tournament, including a 70-68 thriller over Arellano University just last Friday.They were determined to win a third consecutive do-or-die contest, and appeared to be headed that way after taking a 48-39 lead with four minutes remaining in the third quarter off two free throws by Jeremiah Taladua.Calisaan, however, was not about to let the game slip away. His and-1 with 2:55 left made it a four-point game, 44-48, and the Golden Stags got contributions from Alfren Gayosa and Alvin Baetiong as well that allowed them to head into the final quarter down by just a point, 53-54.Letran briefly pulled away again, 60-56, off a booming three-pointer by Rey Nambatac. But Calisaan scored back-to-back buckets, including a jumper over the much smaller JP Calvo, to knot the game at 60 with 5:58 left, and it was a back-and-forth battle from there.The Knights took their last lead of the game at 68-65, thanks to a triple by Calvo and a split at the line by Jeo Ambohot. But Costelo simply would not be denied. He slashed to the lane for a floater that made it 67-68, before Jayson David&#x27;s scoop gave the Stags a 69-68 advantage.Bong Quinto made one of two charities to tie the game for the last time at 69 with 63 seconds left, before Costelo again came to the rescue. The fourth-year guard easily split a double team, then floated a runner over Quinto to give the Golden Stags the lead for good, 71-69, with 44.9 seconds left to play.&quot;Dikitan lang, &#x27;di ba? So sabi ko sa mga teammates ko, walang bibitaw,&quot; said Costelo after the game.The Knights still had a chance, but Ambohot&#x27;s wide open three-pointer hit the front of the rim with 35 seconds to go. Out of a timeout, San Sebastian perfectly ran a play that led to Calisaan firing – and making – his fifth three-pointer of the game that served as the dagger.Calisaan&#x27;s 36 points was his most since scoring 35 points in August 7, 2015, in a win against Lyceum of the Philippines University. The Golden Stags outscored the Knights, 21-15, in the fourth period to finally seize control of the game that featured seven ties and 15 lead changes.<div>Another knockout game</div>Thanks to Tuesday&#x27;s win, the Golden Stags are now through to the next phase of the stepladder semifinals; they play the third-seeded Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on Friday afternoon, also at the Mall of Asia Arena.That will be another knockout game, with the winner advancing to play defending champion and second-seed San Beda College in a do-or-die affair on Tuesday next week.Meanwhile, it was a sorry defeat for the gutsy Knights, who beat De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in their final elimination round game to force a three-way tie for fourth place, then outlasted Arellano in the first knockout game.They simply had no answer for the Stags in crunch time, however, as Calvo&#x27;s triple with still 3:04 left to play proving to be their final field goal of the contest. They would go on to miss three straight triples – one each from Taladua, Ambohot, and Jerrick Balanza.Taladua finished with 16 points, while Quinto added 15 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Calvo had 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.But Nambatac, in the final game of his NCAA career, mustered only 11 points and two boards, while struggling with foul trouble. He also committed five turnovers in the game, including back-to-back miscues in the third period that helped the Golden Stags work their way back into the contest.<div>The scores:</div>SAN SEBASTIAN 74 – Calisaan 36, Costelo 13, Ilagan 6, Navarro 6, Valdez 4, David 3, Gayosa 3, Bulanadi 2, Baetiong 1, Calma 0, Capobres 0, Mercado 0LETRAN 69 – Taladua 16, Quinto 15, Calvo 11, Nambatac 11, Vacaro 8, Ambohot 3, Balanza 3, Balagasay 2, Mandreza 0, Gedaria 0Quarter scores: 18-16, 32-30, 53-54, 74-69(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

For the first time since 2013, San Sebastian College through to the semifinals of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

For the first time since 2013, San Sebastian College through to the semifinals of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

NCAA: Calisaan, Costelo tow San Sebastian into semis

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NCAA: Calisaan, Costelo tow San Sebastian into semis

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 24, 2017 06:31 PM PHT

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