Rookie coach Ato Agustin gets the traditional victory ride after the San Sebastian Stags swept the San Beda Red Lions in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament championship series at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday night. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

There was no denying San Sebastian College Sunday night as the Stags pulled off a 76-61 win over San Beda College to complete a two-game sweep of the 85th NCAA basketball tournament seniors championship series at the Araneta Coliseum.

Unlike in their double overtime 72-68 win in Game 1 where they struggled in the second half, the Stags put up a solid stance in the final 10 minutes of the game after trailing most of the first half to claim their 12th crown while denying the Red Lions a “four-peat.”

Defense proved to be the Stags’ best weapon against the Lions as they held San Beda to a nightmarish performance from the perimeter. They held the Lions to a woeful 0-of-15 from the field in the fourth quarter while getting the needed firepower from Finals Most Valuable Player Jimbo Aquino.

The Lions managed to score only five points in the final period – all coming from free throws – on a 5-of-8 shooting.

Aquino, who sprained his left ankle in the waning moments of the fourth, scored 10 of his 16 points in the final period as the Stags claimed their first title after winning back-to-back from 2001.

“Hindi ko ini-expect na ma-sweep itong finals,” said SSC mentor Ato Agustin, who joined the elite club of San Beda coach Frankie Lim and Letran’s Binky Favis to win the title during his rookie year.

“Sa totoo lang we played poor in the first half, but during the halftime break kinausap ko sila at buti na lang nagising sila sa third quarter at unit-unti bumalik sila,” said Agustin, known as the “Atomic Bomb” during his heydays in the PBA.

The Lions actually started the fourth with 56-54 lead, but could not get going with their offense as San Sebastian waxed hot from the other side of the court.

Aquino’s jumper at the start of the fourth sparked a 15-2 run that gave the Stags a commanding 69-58 lead capped by Ian Sangalang’s split with 1:31 remaining.

“Sobrang sarap ng panalong ito,” said Aquino, who played his final year for the Stags.

The victory was a sweet revenge for the Stags, who lost twice to San Beda to yield the No. 1 spot they held all season-long.

Gilbert Bulawan scored 15 points while Ronald Pascual and John Raymundo chipped in 12 and 11, respectively for the Stags, who recorded the league’s longest winning run at 15 early this season.

San Beda coach Frankie Lim was gracious in defeat.

“You’ve got to give it to San Sebastian, they wanted it more. So congratulations for giving it all. Nobody expected them to win two straight and wipe us out in the finals,” Lim said.

“You have to give it to (coach) Ato. Not to make an excuse, but we could not make a shot in the fourth quarter, wala kaming field goal.”

It was double trouble for San Beda as earlier, Archie Inigo came through with a crucial three-pointer to push the Letran Squires past the Red Cubs, 83-80, that set up a winner-take-all match for the juniors crown on Thursday.

The 5-foot-11 Inigo finished with 10 points, including the long trey with 5.8 seconds left which proved to be the biggest shot of the game as the Squires rebounded from their blowout 98-75 Game One loss last Thursday.

The scores:
First Game (Jrs)
LETRAN 83 — Tampus 28, Khobuntin 22, Ongteco 12, Inigo 10, Cruz 4, So 3, Cabigas 2, Cudal 2.
SAN BEDA 80 — Amer 39, Sara 16, dela Cruz 9, Moralde 7, Abatayo 4, Ludovice 3, Chavez 2, Gotladera 0, Javier 0, Amin 0, Monteclaro 0.
Quarters: 19-30, 43-39, 62-56, 83-80.

Second Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 76 — Aquino 16, Bulawan 15, Pascual 12, Raymundo 11, Najorda 5, Abueva 5, Gatchalian 4, Del Rio 3, Sangalang
3, Sangalang 2, Maconocido 2, Semira 1.
SAN BEDA 61 — Lanete 16, Pascual 11, Tecson 10, Caram 6, Marcelo 6, Daniel 4, Hermida 4, Gamalinda 2, Dela Rosa 2, Taganas 0, Tirona 0.
Quarters: 14-19, 28-38, 54-56, 76-61.