Published October 7, 2025 1:40pm
Updated October 7, 2025 1:40pm
The absence of T-mc Ongotan only highlighted Arellano University’s depth as Renzo Abiera and Anjord Cabotaje fueled an 82-66 statement win over San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the NCAA Season 101 on Tuesday.
Sophomore Abiera went perfect from the field, going 8-of-8 to finish with a career-high 19 points while rookie Cabotaje dropped five triples to tally 15 markers as they hardly missed the services of spitfire guard Ongotan.
From nearly pulling off an upset against Mapua last Saturday, Arellano bounced back with a convincing win to rise to 1-1 in Group A, while San Sebastian fell to a 0-2 start.
And the Chiefs did it all despite an undermanned roster.
Without Ongotan, the team’s second-leading scorer last season, Abiera took charge offensively, catching fire in the third quarter with seven straight points before setting up Maverick Vinoya for a triple that stretched the lead to 60-45.
The rebuilding Stags managed to fight back after veteran TJ Felebrico and young guns Jhuniel Dela Rama and Ian Cuajao connived to trim the gap to eight ahead of the fourth, 57-65.
But Arellano, which squandered a 13-point lead en route to a 90-87 loss to the Cardinals three days ago, pulled away for good as Cabotaje buried two clutch three-pointers that served as daggers, extending the lead to 77-59 with still 4:07 remaining.
For San Sebastian’s part, two rookies shone despite the loss as Cuajao and Dela Rama churned out 12 and 10 points apiece with the latter collecting 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
