The Arellano University Chiefs remain undefeated in the 2016 FilOil Flying V Premier Cup after they dominated the payoff period against the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 81-65, Wednesday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Blazers took the early lead off the hot three-point shooting from Carlo Young, 15-8, halfway into the first quarter. With 3:43 left in the period, CSB’s FSA Clement Lentcheu inadvertently hit Jiovanni Jalalon on a rebound play that resulted to a cut slightly below his left eyebrow. The Arellano guard was sent to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center afterwards for stitches.
“Okay lang kasi guard-heavy kami. Nandiyan si Salado, Meca, at Gumaru,” head coach Jerry Condinera said about Jalalon’s injury. Salado then furthered that he needed to step-up in the game since fellow Cagayan de Oro-native Jalalon was ruled out of the game. “Wala si Jalalon e. Kelangan ko lang talaga mag-step up,” he said.
The Chiefs then slowly made their way and eventually tied the game at 19 off an Abanes trey. Nevertheless, Edward Dixon reclaimed the lead for the Green and White, 21-19.
It was a see-saw battle in the second before the Chiefs took control of the game and finished with the 40-36 lead at halftime. Donald Gamaru fired two 3-point jumpers to carry the fight for AU.
In the third period, the Chiefs continued to wax hot and led by as much as eight, 47-39, before Benilde tied the game at 49 through the heroics of Christian Fajarito. Nonetheless, AU regained the momentum and ended the third, 59-52.
The Chiefs then outmuscled the Blazers in the final period as the lead ballooned to 17, 71-54, with 5:08 left in the game. Fajarito tried to carry the Taft-based squad, but it was too late as AU slowly sealed their third straight win in the Cup.
Brylle Meca finished with a silent 15-point production for Arellano off 70% shooting. Teammate Kent Salado scored 13 markers and dished out six assists.
“You could always depend on him,” Condinera said about his sophomore guard Salado. “He is the next driver after Jalalon.”
Fajarito paced the Blazers with 21 points, while Young finished with 14.
The Arellano Chiefs (A, 3-0) will next face the Perpetual Altas (A, 3-0) in a battle of the unbeatens on Friday, May 13 at 5:00pm. On the other hand, the CSB Blazers (A, 0-3) look for their first win on Saturday, May 14 at 1:30pm against the UP Fighting Maroons (A, 0-1).
The Scores:
AU (81) – Meca 15, Salado 13, Villoria 11, Flores 8, Gumaru 7, Jalalon 6, Canete 5, Abanes 5, Enriquez 4, Cadavis 4, Rivera 2, Gupilan 1, Holts 0, Nichols 0, Alcoriza 0, Bano 0.
CSB (65) – Fajarito 21, Young 14, Lentcheu 6, Haruna 5, Domingo JJ 5, Dixon 5, San Juan 3, Pajarillaga 3, Belgica 2, Pasamante 1, Sta. Maria 0, Norberte 0, Castor 0, Pili 0.
Quarterscores: 19-21, 40-36, 59-52, 81-65.
