Blazers repulse Stags
JHOMEL Ancheta of Saint Benilde scores on a drive as the Blazers roll past the San Sebastian Stags, 73-66, in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament.
Photograph courtesy of NCAA.
College of Saint Benilde kept its footing atop Group A after holding off San Sebastian, 73-66, in Season 102 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament on Monday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Blazers improved to a league-best 5-1 win-loss record, while the Golden Stags remained winless after six games.
Saint Benilde needed a late rally to shake off a pesky San Sebastian side that kept the game close until the final minutes.
The two teams were locked in a 63-all deadlock with under four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Blazers then came through with a pivotal 6-0 run, capped by a Justine Sanchez basket that gave Benilde a 69-63 lead with 1:39 left.
Caesleyh Bacani answered with three straight points for the Stags, but Ian Torres put the game out of reach with a basket that gave the Blazers a 72-66 cushion with under 30 seconds remaining.
“You have to give credit to San Sebastian, they played really well,” Saint Benilde coach Paolo Layug said.
“I also think our defense wasn’t on point in the first half. Thankfully we were able to get stops in the third and fourth quarter.”
Joshua Cajucom led the Blazers with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Jhommel Ancheta added 14 points, while Sanchez finished with 12 for Saint Benilde.