Arellano University dealt College of St. Benilde a big blow in its Final Four bid by eking out a 75-69 win in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.
For a while, the Chiefs looked headed for a runaway win when they took a 71-54 advantage with four minutes to play.
But the Blazers rallied mightily, coming through with a mighty 15-1 run capped by a Justin Gutang basket to pull within 72-69 with 45.7 ticks remaining.
The Chiefs, however, refused to be intimated as they made several defensive stops aside from coming up with clutch baskets in the final stretch to preserve the victory and avenged an 82-77 setback they suffered in the first round.
Rookie center Justin Arana collected 13 points and 10 rebounds with five shot blocks, while veteran guard Kent Salado – in his final collegiate year – had 18 points as Arellano improved to 4-10.
Arellano’s victory, however, was overshadowed by Emilio Aguinaldo College’s 79-75 upset win over San Sebastian College in the second game.
EAC’s win was only its second in 14 games while handing the Stags their 6th defeat in 13 starts.
Mathematically, the Chiefs remained in the hunt for the last three semis berths with three-time defending champion San Beda University already assured of a slot with a superior 14-0 record.
CSB’s fifth straight defeat and seventh in eight games put its own semis bid in peril as it dropped to a 6-7 record.
Raymart Sablan also had a solid showing for the Chiefs with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Gutang led St. Benilde with 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while Kendrix Belgica had 13 points and five boards. (Waylon Galvez)
First Game
ARELLANO 75 – Salado 18, Sablan 14, Arana 13, Bayla 9, Concepcion 8, Talampas 6, Oliva 5, Santos 2, Sunga 0, Alcoriza 0, Espiritu 0.
- BENILDE 69 – Gutang 15, Belgica 13, Dixon 9, Nayve 8, Haruna 6, Leutcheu 6, Carlos 5, Naboa 2, Young 2, Flores 2, Sangco 1, Lim 0.
Quarters: 13-15; 33-29; 57-47; 75-69.
