By: Miguel Caramoan
T-Mc Ongotan delivered a career-high performance as Arellano University pulled off a 72-67 upset win over the College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
After averaging 14.0 points per game in his first four contests, Ongotan exploded for a career-best 28 points, including a blistering 20 markers in the first half.
The game tightened in the fourth quarter as both teams struggled to find the basket. But Ongotan came through in the clutch, completing a three-point play with 33.1 seconds remaining to extend the Chiefs’ lead to five.
“Siguro yun yung maturity na nakuha namin sa last season and preseason. Nakakatuwa yung mga bata kasi sila yung naglalaro eh, inaallow lang nila ako mag-coach sa kanila and the rest sila na yon. Yung setback namin against EAC, yun siguro naging fuel para makakuha uli kami ng big fish,” said Arellano head coach Chico Manabat on the significance of their win against Benilde.
The Chiefs opened strong with an 8-0 run sparked by Ongotan’s early baskets, but the Blazers responded as Justine Sanchez came off the bench to score 10 points, trimming the deficit to 17-15.
Ongotan continued his dominant performance in the second quarter, adding 15 more points as Arellano stretched their lead to as much as 15, 42-27, after an Ernest Geronimo basket with 2:58 left in the half.
Benilde, however, launched a furious rally to open the third quarter. Tony Ynot and Gab Cometa combined for 15 points, helping the Blazers seize their first lead of the game, 55-54, off a Matthew Oli basket. Arellano regained control with a composed 7-2 run to close the period, restoring a 62-57 advantage entering the fourth.
Basti Valencia and Yuan Camay contributed nine and seven points, respectively, while Geronimo and Renzo Abiera stepped up in the fourth quarter to help Ongotan sustain the Chiefs’ offense.
The win is crucial for Arellano, creating separation from the fourth seed and moving just half a game behind Mapua for second place in Group A with their 3-3 record.
“Malayo pa talaga ‘to pero ang pinakamaganda dito yung support ng Cayco family. Naniniwala sila sa traditional program namin na ginawa dito sa Arellano and nawa magbunga,” Manabat said on the team’s showing so far this season.
Arellano’s next assignment in the crossover round will be against another top team in Group B, San Beda University, on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
For Benilde, the loss snapped a three-game winning streak, dropping them to 3-2 in Group B. They were again without Season 100 MVP Allen Liwag, sidelined for the third straight game due to dengue.
The Blazers had three players in double figures—Sanchez with 16 points, Ynot with 13, and Cometa with 12—but their turnover woes resurfaced, committing 18 errors that led to 16 points for the opposition, mirroring their second-worst 19.4 turnover rate in the league.
Benilde looks to bounce back against San Sebastian on Wednesday, also at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Scores:
Arellano 72 – Ongotan 28, Valencia 9, Camay 7, Vinoya 6, Geronimo 6, Abiera 6, Libang 5, Cabotaje 5, Borromeo 0, Buenaventura 0, Hernal 0, Anama 0
Saint Benilde 67 – Sanchez 16, Ynot 13, Cometa 12, Umali 12, Gaspay 4, Galas 4, Oli 2, Torres 2, Eusebio 2, Celis 0, Ancheta 0, Morales 0, Moore 0, Cajucom 0
Quarterscores: 17-15, 45-39, 62-57, 72-67
