Ni: Marivic Awitan

SA kabila ng kawalan ng foreign players, liyamado ang San Sebastian para makasingit sa Final Four ng 93rd NCAA basketball tournament na magsbubukas sa Hulyo 8 sa MOA Arena sa Pasay City.

Marami ang napabilib sa Stags sa matikas na kampanya sa pre-season tournament na Filoil Flying V Premier Cup kung saan nakaabot sila sa quarterfinals.

Ayon kay San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya, naisasantabi ng Stags ang kakulangan sa laki sa impresibong bilis, gilas at matatag na depensa.

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"We know we're a smaller team compared to others who have foreign players," sambit ni Macaraya, nasa ikalawang season sa Stags mula nang palitan si Rodney Santos.

"What we did was to outrun our opponents, play tougher defense and being versatile."

Ibinida ni Macaraya ang 6-foot-6 forward na si Michael Calisaan na may kakayahang umiskor sa three-point area.

"I told him he can't make it to the PBA if he keeps on playing what he was playing before. He has to have more weapons, like shooting threes and facilitating. I'm glad he accepted the challenge," aniya.

Nadagdag din sa lakas ng Stags si Lorenzo Navarro, lumipat mula sa La Salle, gayundin ang stringer na sina Alfren Gayosa, Ian Valdez, Allyn Bulanadi at RK Ilagan.

"There is a chance I might tweak my starting five depending on the match up,"pahayag ni Macaraya.