THE San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) Golden Stags is gunning for the championship title at the 85th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball tournament Game 2 Saturday.

Jimbo Aquino and teammate rookie Calvin Abueva carried the San Sebastian to a double overtime win Thursday in its Finals Game 1 against San Beda College (SBC) moving them one step closer to take their first title in seven years.

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Aquino chipped in 24 points including four in the second overtime while Pampanga native Abueva contributed 10 points, five blocks, and a season-high 23 rebounds to end the game 72-68.

"We stopped their running game, that was the biggest key," said San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin.

San Sebastian conquered first half of the game with its quick plays and defensive stops against the Red Lions wrapping it up, 40-32.

In the third quarter, both teams intensified their defense as the Red Lions only scored eight points while the Stags had seven.

Borgie Hermida drained in a triple in the last quarter to cut San Sebastian's lead to four as teammate Rome dela Rosa took a long jumper shot for a two-point bucket to force the first extra time.

San Beda's Bambam Gamalinda hooked a pair of triples in overtime while Aquino did the job for San Sebastian.

Hermida again took on the heroic responsibilities to take the game into double overtime as it kept the match deadlocked at 62 with a sneaky lay-up.

But San Sebastian gained the advantage in double overtime as San Beda Red Lions dela Rosa, Gamalinda, and Jake Pascual incurred their last foul.

It was the free throws of Ian Sangalang and Abueva that finished off San Beda, 72-68.

Host school San Beda is aiming for a four-peat in the seniors division.

San Beda juniors

In the juniors division, the SBC Red Cubs defeated the Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL), 98-75 to clinch Game 1 victory.

Davao's pride Baser Amer gave 19 points while Dave Moralde, Arthur dela Cruz and Roldan Sara chipped in 18, 12 and 11 points, respectively.

"Our defense worked in the first half," said San Beda coach Badolato, who is in his last season since taking over the job 37 years ago.

Oda Tampus, a recruit from Cebu, and Mark Cruz emerged for Letran and handled the big men of San Beda but the Red Cubs easily took off with a win with its fast breaks.

Game 2 of the Finals will be played Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum, 2 p.m. for the juniors and 4 p.m. for the seniors.

The scores:

First game (juniors):

San Beda 98 - Amer 19, Moralde 18, dela Cruz 12, Sara 11, Gotladera 7, Ludovice 7, Chavez 6, dela Costa 6, Amin 5, Javier 4, Abatayo 2, Monteclaro 1, Lunas 0, Nayve 0, Nazareno 0

Letran 75 - Tampus 31, Khobuntin 15, Cruz 12, Cudal 9, Ongteco 8, So 0, Inigo 0, Cabiga s0, Reyes 0, Cabahug 0, Roxas 0

Quarterscores: 24-19; 54-32; 79-53; 98-75

Second game (seniors):

San Sebastian 72 - Aquino 24, Sangalang 14, Abueva 10, Raymundo 7, Semira 6, Bulawan 4, Maconocido 3, Pascual 2, Najorda 2, del Rio 0, Gatchalian 0

San Beda 68 - Lanete 11, Daniel 11, Hermida 11, Gamalinda 11, dela Rosa 8, Marcelo 8, Pascual 6, Caram 2, Tecson 0, Tirona 0

Quarterscores: 21-16; 40-32; 47-40; 53-53 (overtime); 62-62 (2nd overtime); 72-68 (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)