COLLEGE of Saint Benilde had its guns firing from all angles to rout San Sebastian College, 88-66, on Tuesday in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors’ basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The victory was only the second in five games for the Blazers, who played the Stags fresh off consecutive losses to Lyceum of the Philippines University, reigning titlist San Beda College and Josè Rizal University.
The Blazers made 11 three-point shots in the game with Jonathan Grey finishing with a season-best 29 points, 20 he made in the first half alone. He also had eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Fons Saavedra added 20 points for Saint Benilde, which sent San Sebastian to its sixth loss also in seven outings.
The Blazers actually started dry but Head Coach Gabby Velasco was not quick to press the panic button.
“Today, we’re a bit different from our previous games. Prior to the game, I told them they have to have a lot of energy and a lot of hustle,” Velasco said.
“Our rebounds would tell that we hustled today defensively. We had a different attitude today, we don’t get discouraged and we tried to boost our morale when we look at the team standing,” Velasco added.
Grey said that Velasco’s patience with the players is paying off.
“After ng loss namin sa Jose Rizal, binigyan kaming lahat ng break ni Coach Gabby para makapag-reflect sa performance namin. ‘Pag balik namin sa practice, trabaho lang kami and go hard kami. Pare-pareho lang naman ang gusto namin, which is manalo,” Grey said.
The Stags streaked on an 8-0 lead but the Blazers came roaring with their hustling game anchored on the prolific Grey, who waxed hot early with 20 first half points.
With Grey’s shooting clicking, Saint Benilde turned a slim 20-15 first-quarter lead to a 43-30 advantage at the break.
And then Saavedra took charge as he torched the Stags with 20 second-half points, 18 from behind the arc.
Bradwyn Guinto led San Sebastian with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Jamil Ortuoste compiled 13 points and Michael Calisaan added 10 points and seven rebounds.
In the juniors division, La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) relied on an 18-7 start to clobber of San Sebastian High School, 69-48, and improve to 4-3 (won-lost).
Paolo Rivero, younger brother of De La Salle Green Archer Prince topscored with 23 points and had 12 rebounds, four steals and four blocks for the Greenies.
Lyceum of Cavite squeaked past Letran, 76-73, to tie LSGH in third place. Generoso Cecilio fired 19 points in 32 minutes, with Makki Santos tallying 17 points and 12 rebounds and McLaude Guadaña and Chester Jungco finishing with 12 apiece.
Image credits: Kevin de la Cruz