A sigh of relief

San Sebastian chief deputy Raymund Valenzona is finally relieved that Head Coach Topex Robinson will be calling the shots when the Golden Stags take on the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on Saturday in the 89th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors' basketball tournament.

 Robinson skipped the Stags' two games as he joined the Alaska Aces on their U.S. trip as the team's reward for winning the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner's Cup.

Valenzona, the mentor of the still undefeated Staglets, coached four straight games [juniors and seniors] where he steered both teams to consecutive victories against season host College of Saint Benilde and Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC).

 The Staglets are tied with defending champion San Beda Red Cubs at 6-0 after wins over the Junior Blazers, 62-52, and the EAC Brigadiers, 81-74. Valenzona then guided the Stags to a hard-earned 80-78 victory against the Blazers.

"To God be the glory at ibinigay sa amin ang panalo," said Valenzona following the Stags' come-from-behind 81-74 win over the EAC Generals on Monday.

 San Sebastian had to grind it out against EAC as veterans Noube Happi, Jan Jamon and Jose Morada caught fire to put the Generals to a 64-57 edge after three quarters.

 "Naghirap kami sa panalo na ito. We wanted to win this one for Coach Topex. Talagang ginawa nila Jamil [Ortuoste], CJ [Perez], Jovit [Dela Cruz], Bradley [Guinto] at Leo [De Vera] ang lahat," added Valenzona.

 "Everyone stepped up especially in defense. A team like EAC, pag galing ka sa talo kailangan mo talagang bumawi. We just doubled our effort."

 The Stags—holding a 4-2 card behind undefeated Letran's 5-0 slate, and defending champion San Beda and University of Perpetual Help's 5-1 marks— are currently on a three-game winning roll since dropping a 104-99 double-overtime loss to Mapua on July 1.

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