MANILA - San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin and his new-look Stags came into Season 85 of the NCAA with simple goals -- make the Final Four.

Little did they realize that they would finish bigger than they had earlier imagined.

"When I saw that we're leading by 10 points in the last three minutes and they're missing their foul shots and hurrying their shots, I knew that we already won and we're the champions," said Agustin in Filipino minutes after steering his team to an improbable sweep of the fancied San Beda Lions Saturday at the Big Dome.

Agustin admitted it was really unexpected.

"When we started the year our simple goal is just to make it to the Final Four, we would be happy just by achieving that. We really didn't expect we'll go all the way this year considering the tough field," he said.

Agustin, a former PBA MVP, said their commitment to win proved the biggest key.

"Our main goal was to really just to make it to the Final Four," said Agustin, who replaced Jorge Gallent early this year, after his charges hammered out a series-clinching 76-61 triumph that capped their Cinderella run.

"All of us worked hard and this is sweet because it's my first title as a coach in any basketball level and I thank the boys and the officials of San Sebastian for sticking to their commitment to win and I know I helped the boys get the attitude they needed to win," he added.

The sweet-shooting Aquino and the scrappy Calvin Abueva, a 21-year-old rookie, were driving forces in the Stags successful campaign.

Aquino came through with a 24-point effort in a 72-68 double overtime squeaker in Game 1 and then followed his clutch performance with a 16-point performance in Game 2 including 10 in a pivotal run in the fourth quarter to finish off the Lions.

Aquino then tweaked his left ankle and though he left the court limping, he carried with him the champion's trophy and the Final MVP plum for his gallantry.

"They're the heart and soul of the team, I couldn't ask anything more from them," said Agustin.

After bagging the title, Stags are on the verge of extending their reign to another season and, perhaps, start a dynasty of its own similar to what they accomplished in the 90s when they won five straight championships since they would lose only Aquino next year.

Agustin, however, said was quick to brush the notion aside saying he isn't thinking about it just yet.

"I don't want to think of it now because all that is in my mind to rest and relax a bit, this is the only time of the year that I probably wouldn't be stressed," he said.

Overall, the Stags finished the season with 19 wins and four losses. Two of these defeats came at the hands of the Lions -- one in their last elimination round game denying the reigning titlists outright top seeding in the Final Four and the other relegating the latter from No. 1 to No. 2.

Facing the dangerous Bombers, which was out to end their 37-year title drought, in the Final Four, the Stags dropped the first one after their captain Jimbo Aquino sat out because of a one-game suspension for a disqualifying foul he incurred in a loss to San Beda in a playoff for the No. 1 seed.

But when Aquino returned, he pumped the life back into the Stags, who responded by blowing away the self-destructing Kalentong-based dribblers to clinch the other finals berth where the super-charged Lions, who advanced by making short work of the Rey Guevarra-less Letran Knights, awaited.

The rest is history.