For the first time this season, the Saint Benilde Blazers led during halftime. However, for the 16th time, they were not able to finish.
The Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals, as expected, defeated the College of Saint Benilde Blazers but needed to rally back in a 69-59 win to clinch the last Final Four spot, Thursday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Benilde’s 16th loss ties the Blazers for the most losses in a single season in league history, together with the Angeles University Foundation Great Danes and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.
Allwell Oraeme notched another monster double-double with 16 points,19 rebounds, and two swats. Joseph Eriobu added 13 markers.
Even after clinching the Final Four spot, Mapua head coach Atoy Co was visibly disappointed with the way his players had performed this game.
“I’m happy we’re in the Final Four but dumaan kami sa butas ng karayom eh,” Co said. “I don’t know if the boys were pressured.”
“Benilde had something to gain and nothing lose. I think we have to play harder in the first two quarters. Only in the third fourth quarters, doon lang nagising ang players.”
Surprisingly, the Blazers had a nine point lead in the opening frame, 13-4, and were able to sustain the lead entering halftime. The backcourt of JJ Domingo and Gerald Castor paced the Blazers with seven markers each.
“We cannot afford to play that kind of game from start to middle,” Co furthered.
Behind the frontline of Allwell Oraeme and Joseph Eriobu, the Cardinals were able to bring the game back to normalcy, as they gained a 50-46 lead.
The Cardinals then did what they were supposed to do, as a long triple by Darell Menina and a putback by Justin Serrano extended Mapua’s lead to a game-high 12 points, 65-53, with 2:01 remaining in the game.
“Maybe we have to practice harder. Yung bagong plays, di ma-execute ng tama. There is no consistency,” Co lamented, as he doubted his team’s chances against Arellano if they play like they did this game.
Yankie Haruna led the Blazers with 11 points but on 5-of-16 shooting. Castor, Carlo Young, and Clement Leutcheu added 10 markers apiece.
The Mapua Cardinals (4th, 11-5) still have two games remaining in their schedule. Their penultimate game will be against the Arellano Chiefs (1st, 13-3) on Tuesday, September 20, at 2:00pm. On the other hand, the Benilde Blazers (0-16) look to arrest their 17-game losing streak on the same day, facing the EAC Generals (5-11) at 12:00nn.
The Scores:
MIT (69) – Oraeme 16, Eriobu 13, Isit 8, Menina 8, Serrano 8, Victoria 6, Estrella 4, Bunag 2, Orquina 2, Raflores 2, Aguirre 0.
CSB (59) – Haruna 11, Castor 10, Leutcheu 10, Young 10, Domingo JJ 7, Belgica 6, Dixon 3, Pasamante 2, Pajarillaga 0, Pili 0, Saavedra 0, Suarez 0.
Quarterscores: 11-18, 31-29, 50-46, 69-59.
