Starless Stags

We don't depend on one individual
player alone to win us games. Kent Cruz 

San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson believes having no superstar player on their roster for the 89th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season is working to their advantage.

"What's special with this team is we don't depend on one individual player alone to win us games. It is a collective effort," said Robinson after his Golden Stags escaped with a 78-76 win over a powerhouse Arellano University side on Thursday.

On Paper, the Chiefs have the edge after finishing a strong second in Group A of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Hanes Premier Cup with a 6-2 card even beating three-time NCAA champion San Beda in the elimination round.

Arellano made it to the quarterfinals stage of the said preseason tournament but the University of Santo Tomas Tigers quashed the Chiefs' hopes of entering the semis.

The Chiefs even have a much-experienced lineup composed of Prince Caperal, James Forrester Nard Pinto and Ralph Salcedo, who all honed their skills in the PBA D-League.

It turns out, that Robinson still has an ace up his sleeve as rookies John Ortuste and Filipino-American swingman Leo De Vera had their breakout games.

John Ortuoste will now be a marked man after
leading the Golden Stags past the Chiefs. Kent Cruz

"I'm not surprised (with their performance). I told them they belong to this team and it is just a matter of giving them the breaks they need," said Robinson.

Robinson added that with the Pinatubo Trio (Calvin Abueva, Ronald Pascual and Ian Sangalang) gone the other players need to step up. "I told them that this is the opportunity for you to make a name for yourself. It is an open race for these guys."

Ortuoste, who scored 16 in San Sebastian's 74-69 loss to Letran last week, made 12 of his game-high 28 points in the pivotal fourth quarter to help the Golden Stags stave off the Chiefs' comeback attempt. He shot 10-of-15 from the field, going 3-of-5 from three-point range.

He had plenty of scoring support from De Vera's 15 markers while Jovit Dela Cruz, Bradwyn Guinto and Jaymar Perez combined for 30 points and 31 rebounds.

The 21-year-old had waited a long time watching at the sidelines. He was part of the San Sebastian Staglets' last two NCAA juniors championships in 2008 and 2009 and was a member of the Stags' Team B for two years before finally getting his chance to play in the official men's squad.

"Coach Topex has been reminding us that we must not give up and double our efforts in out-hustling our opponents since we don't have big-name stars. Almost all of us in the team can explode," said the Antipolo City-born Ortuoste.

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