By: Brenn Allen Flores
Tony Ynot delivered in the clutch in his return, leading College of Saint Benilde past Emilio Aguinaldo College and clinching a playoff spot in the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Final Four on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Ynot, who last played on October 1 due to injury, produced 14 points, including six in the fourth quarter, along with four rebounds and four assists.
Trailing 61-59 in the fourth quarter, Ynot sank a crucial three-pointer that put Benilde ahead, 62-61.
Wilmar Oftana then tied the game by hitting a free throw, paving the way for Allen Liwag to complete a three-point play and giving the Blazers a three-point lead with two minutes remaining.
Ynot added a layup to extend Benilde’s lead, but Gil Quinal responded with a triple, keeping it a one-possession game.
With 34.1 seconds left, Oftana attempted to tie the game with a three-pointer but missed, allowing Ynot to secure the win.
The victory also improved the Blazers’ record to 11-2, keeping them at the top of the standings, while the Generals’ hopes for a Final Four spot dimmed as they dropped to 6-7.
King Gurtiza and Harvey Pagsanjan sparked the Generals early, giving EAC a 20-8 lead. Then Allen Liwag cut the deficit to single digits for Benilde by the end of the first quarter, 20-13.
EAC extended their lead to start the second quarter, 25-15, but the Blazers chipped away throughout the period.
They eventually tied the game at 34-all at halftime after consecutive three-pointers from Ynot and Mark Sangco.
Both teams traded leads in the third quarter, with EAC briefly going up 42-41, until Sangco ignited an 8-2 run for Benilde, allowing them to take a 49-44 advantage heading into the fourth.
Gil Quinal and Paolo Bagay combined for six quick points to reclaim the lead for EAC at the start of the fourth, 50-49.
Facing his former team, Liwag led Benilde with 15 points on 71.4% shooting and nine rebounds.
“Siyempre sobrang motivated talaga ako ng doble-doble, kasi sobrang excited ako makalaro yong mga dati kong teammates,” the former General shared.
“Sobrang natuwa lang din ako sa naging improvement nila kasi ang layo na nila doon sa dati, and grabe nakakatuwa lang talaga makalaro sila ulit sa court,” he added.
The Blazers will next face the University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 2:30 PM.
Meanwhile, Pagsanjan paced the Generals with 16 points and six rebounds, while Quinal and Gurtiza tallied 12 and 10 points, respectively.
EAC will aim to bounce back against Colegio San Juan de Letran at 11:00 AM.
The Scores:
Saint Benilde 69 – Liwag 15, Ynot 14, Torres 9, Cometa 7, Eusebio 6, Sangco 5, Ondoa 4, Sanchez 3, Oli 3, Cajucom 3, Morales 0, Ancheta 0, Turco 0, Serrano 0
Emilio Aguinaldo 65 – Pagsanjan 16, Quinal 12, Gurtiza 10, Lucero 5, Doromal 5, Loristo 4, Bacud 4, Ochavo 3, Oftana 3, Bagay 3, Angeles 0, Luciano 0, Ednilag 0, Umpad 0
Quarterscores: 13-20, 34-34, 49-44, 69-65
