COLLEGE of Saint Benilde flexed just enough muscle to beat Emilio Aguinaldo College, 73-66, to finally make the win column on Tuesday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors’ basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The Blazers groped in their first two games in Season 91 but, against the Generals, they were in control, staving off all efforts by their foes to turn the game around for their first win in three matches.
Blazers Head Coach Gabby Velasco said his players responded with a sense of urgency following consecutive losses to favorites Letran and Perpetual Help.
“We struggled in the last two games because there were only two guys contributing offensively and making most of the points. We cannot go on and play that way. Somebody else has to step up. Today, Travis [Jonson] was there, and even [Fons] Saavedra was there,” Velasco said.
“Coming into the game, everybody committed that we should play harder and play tougher on the defensive end,” Velasco said. “True enough, we were able to deliver on the defensive end, especially against their big guys and [Sidney] Onwubere, who we were ready for in their first game. Toward the end, we were able to adjust to their zone defense.”
In the juniors division, La Salle Greenhills overpowered Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA) of Cavite, 72-61, with starting forward Alain Madrigal posting 29 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks for the Greenies.
Malayan High School of Science unleashed a 23-3 run in the first quarter to drub Perpetual Help, 87-51, also in juniors action. Guard Jasper Salenga uncorked a season-best 30 points, 11 rebounds and three steals for the Red Robins.
The Greenies and the Red Robins vaulted to 2-1 (won-lost) records, while the ICA Brigadiers dropped to 0-2 and the Altalettes to 0-3.
The Blazers jumped to an 18-7 lead in the first quarter behind Jonson and Saavedra, who combined for 11 points in that breakaway.
The Generals kept the game interesting with a furious second-quarter rally backstopped by Fernan Mejos’s 13 points. They outscored the Blazers, 15-3, to close the gap to 23-29.
But that was the best EAC could muster as Saint Benilde played heads up to preserve the victory.