By: Miguel Caramoan
It was a tough stretch for College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Tournament, as the Blazers faced a gauntlet featuring defending champion Mapua, Group A leader San Beda, and rival Letran.
Despite the challenge, Benilde managed to stay afloat and even find bright spots along the way.
Fortunately for the Taft-based squad, they finished that stretch with a 2-1 record, helping them maintain their hold on second place in the group.
With reigning MVP Allen Liwag sidelined by a shoulder sprain in their matchup against Mapua, the run also highlighted how much the team needed to adjust on the fly.
“Two out of three — I’ll take it, but I still wish we got three out of three. I thought we could have beaten Beda without Allen, no excuses. We were a few plays here and there short, which became a loss for us,” Benilde head coach Charles Tiu said, reflecting on the team’s performance during the three-game grind.
Tony Ynot continued to find his rhythm, averaging 19.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists over that span. Ian Torres also stepped up, contributing 15 points off the bench in their 80-74 win over Letran.
However, the Blazers still revealed glaring issues, most notably their 22 turnovers.
While their turnover numbers have improved in recent contests, the Knights’ game showed that old habits can resurface at the worst moments.
Tiu didn’t hide his frustration over the miscues, particularly the carelessness in the opening half.
For him, such lapses are avoidable — and could cost them dearly once the stakes get higher in the knockout rounds.
“Horrible. That’s why I was so upset in the first half, because we had 14 in one half. We weren’t smart. So many uncalled-for turnovers, which is mind-boggling,” he said.
“We’re not going to win many games with 22 turnovers, so we have to be better. It’s been our Achilles heel all season long.”
Still, the Blazers remain in control of their fate to secure one of the twice-to-beat spots. With two games left on their schedule, every possession matters, and tightening up their ball security will be essential if they hope to claim the championship in Season 101.
Tiu emphasized that their target has always been clear, and the path to it remains within reach. Consistency — and taking care of business when it matters most — will be key.
“But again, our target is top two naman, so we still control everything right now, so we just have to take care of business and win our last two games,” he added.
