By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
College of St. Benilde survived San Sebastian’s furious comeback in regulation and eked out a pulsating 96-94 overtime victory on Tuesday, Oct. 1, to remain at the helm in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Blazers held their composure in the extra period by putting up a defensive wall in the dying seconds en route to clinching their sixth win against a single loss.
Winston Ynot paced St. Benilde with 23 points including a dagger jumper in the last 1:27 of the overtime period that gave them back the momentum heading to the final stretch. He also added eight rebounds and eight assists.
The Blazers appeared headed into a lopsided win after leading by 17, 78-61, at the end of the third period, but the Stags staged a massive fightback anchored on Raymart Escobido and Paeng Are.
The duo combined for six straight points to tie the game at 87-all and had even the chance to snatch the win with 3.3 ticks left.
But Escobido’s buzzer-beating jumper cruelly bounced off the rim.
In the extra period, the Stags even took a 94-92 lead on Escobido’s triple, but that was their first and last time to enjoy being on the driver’s seat as Sanchez and Ancheta answered back with back-to-back baskets to regain the lead.
Allen Liwag had another stellar showing, logging 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Sanchez took charge in the paint by grabbing 10 boards on top of eight points for the Blazers.
San Sebastian absorbed its sixth consecutive defeat against two wins despite the 29-point and 20-point efforts of Escobido and Are.
Meanwhile, San Beda drew strength from Jomel Puno as it squeaked past archrival Letran, 66-64.
Puno unleashed a career-high performance of 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Red Lions improved to 4-3 in tie with University of Perpetual Help at fourth place.
San Beda also turned to Bryan Sajonia in the crunch, who rifled a booming triple with 41 ticks to go off an assist from Puno that virtually sealed the win.
Letran fell from second to third place with a 5-3 slate.
The scores:
First Game
BENILDE 96 – Ynot 23, Liwag 17, Sanchez 8, Torres 8, Eusebio 7, Turco 6, Morales 6, Ancheta 5, Cometa 4, Ondoa 4, Caujcom 3, Jarque 3, Sangco 2, Oli 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 94 – Escobido 29, Are 20, R. Gabat 12, Felebrico 9, Aguilar 9, L. Gabat 4, Ricio 3, Barroga 2, Velasco 2, Suico 2, Lintol 2, Pascual 0, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 31-20; 58-37; 78-61; 87-87 (reg.); 96-94 (OT).
Second Game
San Beda 66 – Puno 22, Celzo 8, Sajonia 8, Songcuya 8, Andrada 8, Payosing 6, Tagle 3, Estacio 3, Gonzales 0, Calimag 0, Tagala 0, Royo 0
Letran 64 – Santos 18, Estrada 16, Cuajao 12, Nunag 7, Montecillo 5, Miller 4, Monje 2, Jumao-As 0, Go 0, Dimaano 0, Baliling 0
Quarterscores: 20-16; 30-32; 49-51; 66-64,
