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COLLEGE
of Saint Benilde (CSB) turned to its reliable defense to overcome an
atrocious, error-filled offense and outlast University
of Perpetual Help Dalta System, 61-54, for their
second-straight win in the 84th National Collegiate
Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament
Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The win
catapulted the Blazers to the top of the eight-team
field, a remarkable development for a team that finished
dead last in the past two seasons—including last year’s
one-win output. They won their opening match against the
Dolphins of Philippine Christian University, 69-65, on
Saturday.
“We’re
happy to have won this game despite our poor shooting,”
said rookie coach Gee Abanilla. “Thanks to our defense
for carrying us, particularly down the stretch.”
“I’m
also happy because my boys are now starting to learn how
to play solidly, they don’t give up even when the going
gets tough. They are also showing killer instinct.”
In the
juniors’ division, the San Sebastian Staglets demolished
the Mapua Malayan Red Robins, 119-25, while the Junior
Blazers of La Salle-Greenhills clobbered the Perpetual
Altalettes, 95-76.
Junior
forward Jacob Manlapaz scored 14 points and grabbed
seven rebounds to lead CSB, which won despite shooting
17-of-38 from the field and committing 20 turnovers,
mostly traveling violations.
Perpetual Help had an even worse 14-of-34 clip from the
floor and 18 errors.
The
Blazers and the Altas engage in a tit-for-tat battle
from the onset, with neither team leading by more than
four points. The first quarter ended at 18-all and the
score remained square at 33-all at the intermission,
before the Altas broke the trend by going up by a point,
48-47, at the start of the payoff period.
After
two more deadlocks and lead changes, the Blazers
uncorked a short but telling 7-2 run capped by Archie
David’s triple but anchored mostly on defense, to take a
57-52 advantage with 2:45 remaining.
They
then held the Altas to just one basket the rest of the
way to escape with their first back-to-back victories
since September 1, 2006, when they followed up a 68-66
win against the Altas with a 69-68 squeaker over the
Heavy Bombers of Jose Rizal University.
David
added 13 points, while Garri Sevilla recovered from a
bad fall to score five of his 11 points in the last five
minutes for CSB, which will try to extend their perfect
start to three games against Letran on Friday.
The
Blazers have only won a total of four games over the
past two NCAA seasons.
Sophomore slotman Raffy Ynion had a game-high 18 points,
while rookie playmaker Franz Dysam had 10 to show the
way for UPHDS, which failed to follow up their 60-55
conquest of San Sebastian College-Recoletos. |
