De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde kept University of Perpetual Help System DALTA at bay late, taking an 83-73 wire-to-wire win, in the NCAA Season 97 seniors basketball. Saturday at the La Salle Green Hills’ St. Benilde Gym in Mandaluyong.
Miggy Corteza and AJ Benson provided the answers for the Blazers when their huge lead dwindled down late in the game.
Corteza drilled a mid-range jumper over the outstretched arm of Mark Omega to restore an eight-point lead 79-71, with 1:34 left in the game. AJ Benson then took back a Jielo Razon basket with one of his own for an 81-73 advantage with 68 seconds left.
The Blazers had to fight through for this one, despite blowing the game early.
After going down from as high as 23 points early in the third quarter off a Robi Nayve free throw, Razon and Jeff Egan cut the deficit to nine twice at the start of the final frame.
Razon sank a wide-open three at the 6:56 mark of the fourth, then Egan split his charities to get it to 61-70.
CSB, though, gained back their confidence with Corteza and Benson flexing their muscles, before Nayve sealed the win for good with an 83-73 lead, 35 seconds left.
The Blazers zoomed to solo third at 4-1, but just half a game behind leaders Colegio de San Juan de Letran and San Beda University. Meanwhile, the Altas went back to below .500 with 2-3.
CSB will go for a fifth straight win against Jose Rizal University in the lone game on April 12 at 3 p.m.
On the other hand, Perpetual will look to come back when they take on Mapua University (3-1) the following day, April 13 at 3 p.m.
