College of Saint Benilde bounced back after a tight loss against Lyceum of the Philippines University as the Blazers came alive in the fourth quarter against San Sebastian College-Recoletos to come away with a 78-68 victory in the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil Ecooil Centre.
With this win, the Blazers improved to a 10-5 record, securing a two-game advantage over the San Beda University Red Lions for the third spot in the standings. The two teams are scheduled to face off on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in a crucial match for the overall NCAA standings.
“Hopefully, we can carry this momentum into the Final Four if we’re fortunate enough to make it there,” shared Blazers head coach Charles Tiu after the game.
Meanwhile, the Stags are now on the verge of falling out of the final four race, dropping to 5-10 for the season. They are set to play against the Pirates on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
The Blazers encountered difficulty pulling away from the feisty Stags in the first three quarters, but they eventually managed to establish their largest lead at the beginning of the final frame.
As the Stags closed in on their advantage, narrowing the gap to a single possession at 58-56 after a mid-range jumper from Tristan Felebrico, the Blazers embarked on a 12-2 run, seizing full control of the game. Following a pair of free throws from Prince Carlos, the Blazers held a 70-58 lead, leaving the Stags with no answers.
Maintaining the lead throughout the rest of the game, the Blazers secured a 78-68 victory.
“I was a bit worried when they scored in the fourth, and we were only up by four. However, the guys stepped up and made some big shots. This is a learning experience for us, a chance to improve,” Tiu added.
Robi Nayve had a stellar all-around performance for the Blazers, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.
From the bench, Michael Mara, the backup big man, had his best game of the season, contributing 12 points and grabbing eight boards.
In the starting five, both Will Gozum and Miguel Oczon had solid outings. Gozum finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Oczon recorded a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Romel Calahat led the Stags in scoring with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Alex Desoyo contributed 11 points.
The Scores:
St. Benilde 78- Gozum 14, Nayve 13, Oczon 13, Mara 12, Corteza 6, Carlos 4, Cajucom 4, Sangco 4, Jarque 3, Turco 3, Morales 2, Marcos 0, Arciaga 0
San Sebastian 68- Calahat 14, Despyo 11, Re. Gabat 8, Are 8, Escobido 7, Felebrico 6, Sumoda 5, Shanoda 5, Una 4, De Leon 0
Quarterscores: 21-12, 43-41, 58-54, 78-68
