What was expected to be a tightly contested affair turned out to be a lopsided one, as College of Saint Benilde breezed past Statham Academy, 105-84, to clinch the 2023 Corsa Tires Asiabasket Dasmariñas Championship title on Saturday at the Dasma Arena.
The Blazers swept the tournament after going undefeated in seven games, courtesy of a 4-0 win-loss slate in the group stage, followed by a 90-43 quarterfinal win against the Pilipinas Aguilas and a 103-86 semifinal triumph over the MisOr Mustangs.
Tony Ynot shone the brightest in the dominant win, producing 23 points, along with six rebounds, two assists, and one block, en route to bagging the tournament MVP award.
Import Emman Ojuola contributed a double-double effort of 14 markers and 11 boards alongside three denials.
Also delivering for the Blazers were Kobe Ordonio (18 points on 7-of-7 shooting), Allen Liwag (10 points, 8 rebounds), and Justine Sanchez (8 points, 4 rebounds).
Benilde started to pull away for good in the second quarter when the wards of Serbian head coach Rajko Toroman torched Statham Academy by scoring 37 points while limiting the US-based squad to just 17.
Statham Academy, competing in the Asiabasket for the first time, put up a better fight in the payoff period, but their comeback attempt fell short.
Ynot mentioned that their recent achievement should be a huge boost to their morale before suiting up for the Blazers in the upcoming NCAA Season 100 next year. Currently, the do-it-all 6-foot-1 guard is serving his residency along with fellow former San Beda Red Lions Sanchez and Gab Cometa, as well as ex-EAC big man Liwag.
“Madadala namin ito sa next (NCAA) season, sa Season 100 kasi kailangan din namin ipakita next season na kaya namin mag-champion,” Ynot said.
Jonathan Guzman paced Statham Academy, almost registering a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds, while founder Taylor Statham flirted with a triple-double, recording 10 markers, eight boards, and nine assists.
Meanwhile, the MisOr Mustangs squandered a double-digit lead and once stared at a 13-point deficit before rallying late to secure a thrilling 106-104 win against Shawarma Shack in their battle for third place.
The Scores:
Benilde 105 – Ynot 23, Ordonio 18, Ojuola 14, Liwag 10, Sanchez 8, Torres 7, Oli 7, Eusebio 5, Ancheta 5, Serrano 4, Cometa 4.
Statham Academy 84 – Guzman 24, Galuppo 15, Etter 14, Chung 14, Statham 10, Divita 5, Funchess 2.
Quarterscores: 25-16, 62-33, 83-52, 105-84.
