Heading into a tension-riddled second-round matchup against Jose Rizal University, College of Saint Benilde head coach Charles Tiu was already preparing for a grind-it-out, emotional battle.
“I think it’s a big game for us. I’m sure JRU will be pumped up to play us again. It was an ugly win for us the last time we played them. They’re a tough team, they execute well, they have some good players, so we need to bring our A-game against them; otherwise, they will eat us alive,” explained Tiu after their victory over Arellano University.
The first-round matchup between the two squads ended in controversy as the Heavy Bombers squad refused to shake hands with Benilde after a 93-85 thriller.
To make the stakes even higher, their rematch would come just one day before the anniversary of an even more controversial issue in the two schools’ recent bloody history: the John Amores incident.
By the opening tip of the rematch, the tension was apparent. The whistles were abundant before the halftime break even arrived, as the first half hosted four technical fouls, three unsportsmanlike fouls, and an ejection of JRU’s head coach Louie Gonzalez.
For the most part, though, the tension never boiled over past the basketball court as the two squads stayed focused on the game rather than the emotion.
The match eventually came down to the final seconds as Will Gozum would turn away JRU’s attempt to force overtime, helping the Blazers emerge victorious, 84-81. After the game, Tiu shared his appreciation for both sides for not letting the high stakes and the intensity of the match get in the way of the game.
“It’s okay, it’s a physical game, but I’m happy even with JRU; we had a good handshake after the game, and there was some sportsmanship there,” shared Tiu. “I think we appreciated that both just competed; we both wanted to win. We always play each other tough. It’s been like that every season, so at least we stuck to playing basketball.
“They also played good basketball. I thought Guiab was excellent today. JL delos Santos played pretty well, and they’re a good team. We got lucky that we were able to escape with the win.”
Tiu explained that composure was a point of emphasis for him with his group in the week heading into the matchup as he knew how big of a match it was for their final four hopes.
“We’ve reminded them every day this week before playing JRU. We reminded them before the game, and we said to expect a physical game.
“They’re also desperate to win, they’ll be tough, and they’re a tough team. We just have to stay composed and focus on playing basketball. For the most part, I’m happy,” said Tiu.
The second-year coach was quick to admit, though, that the Blazers were not completely guilt-free from letting their emotions get the best of them.
“The second half, I wasn’t too happy that Sangco got himself ejected.
“I didn’t see what he did, but he also got into a technical in the first half, which was nonsense. There’s no point in getting a technical foul. Now he’s suspended and ejected, so I’m a bit disappointed there, but for the most part, the guys kept their cool,” Tiu continued.
With the JRU match behind them, another matchup with a final four contender awaits Benilde as it faces Lyceum of the Philippines University next on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
