By: Bjorn Del Deade
College of Saint Benilde, despite missing lead guard Jhomel Ancheta, bounced back in a high-scoring fashion, halting Lyceum of the Philippines University’s three-game winning streak with a decisive 103-78 victory at the Filoil Ecooil Centre in San Juan City on Friday.
Ancheta was sidelined due to a one-game suspension after hitting Paolo Javillonar in their narrow 69-71 loss to Letran last Sunday, which marked Benilde’s first defeat of the season.
“After nung game namin, nung natalo kami, kanya-kanya kami nag-review kung ano nangyari sa game na ‘yun. Kelangan talaga namin mag-focus kasi galing sa tatlong sunod na panalo yung Lyceum,” shared Allen Liwag, a transferee from Emilio Aguinaldo College
Justine Sanchez, a former San Beda Red Lion, added, “Unang-una, yung last game, masakit siya. Iniisip namin na kaya namin i-sweep. Pero good thing yun, nagising kami na hindi lagi dapat na iniisip namin for the win.”
Even without their former CEU Scorpion floor general, the Blazers became the first team to breach the 100-point mark in the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
Their 103-point output also marked the highest score recorded in the Charles Tiu era.
Liwag led the charge with an impressive double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Sanchez followed closely behind with 18 points, going a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.
From the opening frame, Benilde set the tone with 32 points against the Pirates’ 22.
By the second quarter, the Blazers built a commanding 20-point lead, 43-31, after a 12-4 blitz capped by a Mowell Morales triple.
At halftime, Benilde held a comfortable 59-40 lead, with Morales scoring on a layup before the break.
By the final quarter, the game was all but decided.
Benilde reached the century mark late in the game, with Irele Galas contributing six points in the closing minutes to set their highest scoring output under Tiu.
Mowell Morales chipped in 10 points, while Ian Torres and Gab Cometa added nine apiece, as all but three Blazers contributed to the scoring.
Benilde will aim to solidify their position at the top of the standings when they face the struggling San Sebastian Stags on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 12 p.m. at the same venue.
On the other hand, Mclaude Guadana’s game-high 26 points on 55.6 percent shooting couldn’t help LPU withstand Benilde’s offensive onslaught.
Gyle Montano and John Barba added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The Pirates will look to bounce back when they face the Generals on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2:30 p.m., also at the Filoil Ecooil Centre.
The Scores:
St. Benilde 103 – Liwag 22, Sanchez 18, Morales 10, Torres 9, Cometa 9, Sangco 8, Eusebio 7, Galas 7, Ondoa 4, Ynot 3, Cajucom 3, Serrano 3, Carillo 0, Turco 0, Oli 0
Lyceum 78 – Guadaña 26, Montaño 14, Barba 12, Villegas 6, Peñafiel 4, Culanay 4, Paulo 4, Aviles 3, Cunanan 2, Gordon 2, Pallingayan 1, Moralejo 0, Daileg 0, Caduyac 0, Panelo 0
Quarterscores: 32-22, 59-40, 80-59, 103-78
