Jerrick Balanza celebrated his 24th birthday in style yesterday, exploding for 26 points a the Letran Knights snapped a two-game skid with a dominant 88-64 win over the College of St. Benilde Blazers in the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
In his best game so far, the 6-foot-1 Balanza shot 8-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point territory to lead the Knights to their 6th win in 9 games at the close of first round elims.
Balanza scored 16 points in the first two quarters that set the tone for Letran’s runaway win.
Balanza’s brilliance somehow rubbed off on his teammates as they made 15-of-35 (42.86%) from the field as compared to CSB’s 11-of-29 (37.93%).
Balanza said his new-found belief in life after being diagnosed with a brain tumor a year ago has helped boost his confidence – off and on the court.
His dazzling 26-point show came a day before he also celebrates his successful operation to remove the tumor.
“Bukas (Sept. 7) sakto one year na yung surgery ko,” said Balanza, who missed the entire second round of the NCAA last year as he recovered from the surgery.
“Sobrang saya lang na nabigyan ako ng second chance and I’m just trying to maximize kung ano ang meron ako ngayon (I’m so happy that I was given a second chance and I’m just trying to maximize what I have now,” added Balanza, a father of two, Alexandra Jerrica, 5, and Amara Shane, 2.
More importantly, it propelled the Knights to a tie for second to fourth spots in the standings with the Blazers and the Lyceum Pirates.
Letran coach Bonnie Tan said the long break has helped them correct some bad habits, saying: “Masaya ako na lumabas yung laro namin, na dati ko pa nga hinahanap. Sa break namin, we rediscovered yung talent individually. At the same time we identified yung mga errors namin, bad habits sa court.”
Kendrix Belgica led the Blazers with 12 points, the only double digit scorer for the Taft-based team. (Waylon Galvez)
The scores:
LETRAN 88 – Balanza 26, Batiller 10, Olivario 7, Muyang 7, Caralipio 6, Yu 6, Ular 6, Balagasay 6, Ambohot 5, Reyson 5, Mina 2, Sangalang 2, Javillonar 0, Guarino 0.
- BENILDE 64 – Belgica 12, Haruna 8, Naboa 7, Flores 7, Carlos 7, Nayve 6, Sangco 5, Lepalam 5, Gutang 3, Young 3, Leutcheu 1, Dixon 1, Velasco 0, Mosqueda 0.
Quarters: 25-15; 46-35; 73-49; 88-64.
