With NBA legend Tim Hardaway watching, Jimboy Pasturan played his best game for the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, lifting his squad to an 84-77 win over the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
It was a much-needed win for the Blazers as they end the round with three-straight wins for a 6-3 record – tied with the Letran Knights.
“Yeah, that’s what we are hoping and praying for last week,” said second-year head coach TY Tang. “We wanted to get some wins to close out the first round and carry it to the next round. Hopefully, we could play better basketball in the second round.”
Pasturan, a former Adamson Soaring Falcons, proved to be the difference for the Blazers.
“We’ve all been waiting for him. He was passive to start the game and I was the one telling him na, ‘Itira mo na yan’,” shared the youthful head coach.
Trailing 62-63, Pasturan knocked down back-to-back triples to give Benilde the lead for good and spark a 13-2 blast.
“Ito nga yung sinasabi ni coach na tsansa ko na ito. Kailangan din namin manalo ngayon para makahabol sa Perpetual,” said Pasturan, who had 13 points.
The Altas were able to cut the lead down to as low as five points, but Pasturan’s free throws bucked any hopes of a Perpetual comeback.
Justin Gutang tallied a double-double for Benilde with 20 points and 13 rebounds, to go along with three steals and three dimes. Yankie Haruna had 20 markers as well on 7-for-10 shooting.
Perpetual were without Edgar Charcos for the last 11:28 of the game, as he hyperextended his right knee.
Edward Dixon was ejected from the game with 1:02 remaining after being handed his second unsportsmanlike foul of the game. He and Kim Aurin were also slapped with technical fouls for continuous complaining.
Prince Eze paced Perpetual with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Kim Aurin added 23 markers.
The Scores:
CSB 84 — Gutang 20, Haruna 20, Pasturan 13, Domingo 9, Leutcheu 7, Young 5, Belgica 3, Nayve 3, Carlos 2, Dixon 2, Naboa 0, Velasco 0.
UPHSD 77 — Eze 24, Aurin 23, Razon 13, Charcos 9, Cuevas 4, Peralta 4, Coronel 0, Mangalino 0, Pasia 0.
Quarterscores: 18-12, 29-29, 53-57, 84-77.
