Calvin Oftana was a man on a mission Thursday afternoon, powering San Beda’s 95-73 romp of Saint Benilde in the NCAA Season 95 Seniors Basketball Tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The leading Most Valuable Player candidate scored 14 of his 29 points in the third canto that turned a one-point halftime deficit into a 14-point lead heading into the final frame.
The fourth-year Red Lion also tallied nine rebounds and five assists, waking up San Beda from a first half slumber.
“Simple lang ang sinabi ko sa mga players ko sa halftime — we’re really playing well in the last sixteen games and they will just do the different thing come the seventeenth game?” shared decorated San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez, who despite winning four championships for the Red Lions has yet to perform a rare elimination round sweep.
“Mahiya naman sila sa mga sarili nila.”
The other members of San Beda’s big four also delivered with James Canlas scattering 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists; Donald Tankoua adding 13 points and five rebounds; and Evan Nella tallying nine points and nine assists.
Peter Alfaro put on the finishing touches, scoring all nine of his points in the final frame to help San Beda gain a lead that went to as high as 28 points.
Benilde, who was sent to the brink of elimination with a 7-9 slate, was led by Justin Gutang 23-point, five-rebound outing.
No one else scored in double-figured for the TY Tang-mentored squad.
San Beda will go for the sweep on Thursday, October 17 against the Lyceum Pirates. CSB, on the other hand, faces the JRU Heavy Bombers on Tuesday.
The Scores:
SBU 95 — Oftana 29, Canlas 21, Tankoua 13, Soberano 10, Nelle 9, Alfaro 9, Doliguez 2, Bahio 0, Abuda 0, Obenza 0, Carino 0, Noah 0, Etrata 0.
CSB 73 –– Gutang 23, Young 7, Carlos 7, Dixon 7, Belgica 6, Haruna 6, Flores 6, Sangco 5, Nayve 3, Mosqueda 3, Naboa 0, Lim 0.
Quarterscores: 27-20, 41-42, 72-58, 95-73.
