By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Friday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 noon – Arellano vs Lyceum
2:30 p.m. – Letran vs Mapua
College of St. Benilde continued its dominance in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball as it claimed the scalp of University of Perpetual Help, 78-51, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Exploiting their deeper bench, the Blazers outhustled the Altas from the get-go before exploding for 32 points in the second quarter to rip the game wide apart on the way to their fourth win in a row.
It was Benilde’s most lopsided win so far.
Justin Sanchez unloaded 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Winston Ynot and Gab Cometa chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Blazers who led as many as 29 points, 69-40, at the end of the third.
Even Benilde coach Charles Tiu was surprised with their runaway win as he was expecting a dogfight from one of the fancied teams in the league having former San Miguel Beer star guard Olsen Racela as coach.
“Obviously, you prepare for every game and every game you expect to win, but I didn’t think that we’d play this well,” said Tiu.
“I give my credit to the players. They really defended well. Kasi I’ve been telling them the past week that Perpetual is a really strong team with a great coach. So I’m just happy the players delivered,” he added.
Perpetual took a 6-4 lead but its joy was short-lived as Benilde stepped on the gas, grabbing an 18-10 lead which they nourished to prevail in style.
Mark Gojo Cruz and Shawn Orgo tried to inject life for the Altas but the Blazers had every answer for their assault.
Cruz finished with a double-double performance of 11 points and 10 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough as the Altas absorbed their second straight defeat and dropped to 2-2 in the company of the defending champion San Beda Red Lions and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.
So hot were the Blazers they produced 11 points off Perpetual turnovers, 19 second-chance points and 15 fastbreak points.
In the second game, Jose Rizal University dominated San Sebastian, 90-74, for its first-ever victory.
The Bombers unloaded their offensive weapons in the last two quarters where they outscored the Stags, 50-34, on their way to ending a three-game slump.
Marvin Raymundo steered JRU with an all-around game of 21 points on a perfect 7-of-7 clip from the charity stripe, while hauling 13 rebounds, dishing off two assists and swatting away three blocked shots.
Mart Barrera also carried the fight for the Bombers with 18 points highlighted by a 7-of-10 shooting from the field, even as Jonathan Medina chipped in 11 points and five boards.
The scores:
First Game
ST. BENILDE 78 – Sanchez 13, Ynot 12, Cometa 10, Ancheta 9, Torres 8, Eusebio 8, Serrano 7, Liwag 4, Morales 3, Sangco 2, Ondoa 2, Jarque 0, Turco 0, Oli 0, Carillo 0.
PERPETUAL 51 – Gojo Cruz 11, Orgo 10, Boral 9, Abis 4, Pizarro 4, J. Manuel 4, Pagaran 4, Nuñez 3, Montemayor 2, Gelsano 0, Cauguiran 0, Sevilla 0, Javier 0, Movida 0, B. Manuel 9.
Quarters: 18-10; 50-29; 69-40; 78-51.
Second Game
JRU 90 – Raymundo 21, Barrera 18, Medina 11, Argente 10, Lozano 10, Guiab 9, Mosqueda 5, Panapanaan 2, Sarmiento 2, De Leon 2, Ramos 0, Bernardo 0, Pangilinan 0, Samontanes 0, Ferrer 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 74 – Are 17, Escobido 11, Aguilar 11, Felebrico 10, Velasco 10, Maliwat 7, R. Gabat 6, L. Gabat 2, Barroga 0, Ricio 0, Pascual 0, Lintol 0.
Quarters: 20-21; 40-40; 65-59; 90-74.
