Games on Saturday (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. - Letran vs San Beda (Jrs)
4 p.m. - San Sebastian vs San Beda (Srs)

Rookie Calvin Abueva picked up the right time and the right place to shine.

Forced to an overtime game for the first time this season, the rookie-laden San Sebastian College nearly faltered but found a hero in high-leaping Abueva who made clutch plays as the Stags outsteadied the San Beda Red Lions in double overtime, 72-68, and moved onto the threshold of the NCAA basketball championship Thursday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Abueva’s charities with 6.9 seconds left proved to be the dagger that pierced the hearts of the four-peat seeking Red Lions as the Stags took the opening game of their best-of-three title series.

With the Stags holding a slim 70-68 lead, Abueva calmly sank his free throws off a foul by Jake Pascual to practically silent a sea of San Beda supporters – most of them wearing red t-shirts.

The 6-foot-1 Abueva, a native of Pampanga, finished in double-double with 10 points and season-high 23 rebounds on top of five blocks, including one on American Sudan Daniel, and three assists for the Stags.

The Stags can clinch the title – their 12th overall – with another win tomorrow at the same venue.

“Incredible talaga itong batang ito. Very hard working talaga siya, even in practice sobrang sipag niya,” said rookie SSC coach Ato Agustin.

“This the first time this season that we played in overtime, but the boys showed a lot of composure at pinakita nila na that they can handle the pressure.”

The Lions nearly overhauled a five-point deficit, 69-64, and came within 68-69 on a Sudan Daniel charities with 37.6 seconds, but Ian Sangalang scored on the next play before Abueva sank his crucial charities.

While Abueva made the winning shot, it was the Jimbo Aquino, the team captain, who kept the Stags afloat against the gritty Lions as he fired 24 points including four in the overtime.

In high school division, the San Beda Red Cubs used a torrid first half to rout the Letran Squires, 98-75, in their own title series.

The scores:
SSC 72 – Aquino 24, Sangalang 14, Abueva 10, Raymundo 7, Semira 6, Bulawan 4, Maconocido 3, Pascual 2, Najorda 2, del Rio 0, Gatchalian 0,
SBC 68 – Lanete 11, Daniel 11, Hermida 11, Gamalinda 11, Dela Rosa 8, Marcelo 8, Pascual 6, Caram 2, Tecson 0, Tirona 0.
Quarters: 21-16, 40-32, 47-40, 53-53 OT: 62-62, 71-68