COLLEGE of St. Benilde moved closer to taking the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament by pounding on free-falling Letran, 83-78, in the battle of Final Four contenders Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Blazers had no problem recovering from a slow start, as they held the Knights to just 10 points in the second quarter, turning around an early 12-point deficit to a 47-37 lead by halftime.
Top MVP contender Allen Liwag top-scored for 20 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks for Benilde, which stretched its streak to seven straight and improved its league-best record to 13-2.
“We’re playing for the top two spot and it’s a very big advantage. But hindi pa kami nag-clinch (twice-to-beat), so we needed this game,” said Benilde coach Charles Tiu, as they zone in on a twice-to-beat bonus in the semifinals
The win also avenged the Blazers’ 71-69 loss to Letran in the first round.
Justine Sanchez added 16 and Mark Sangco had 11 for Benilde, as it warmed up for its coming showdown with fellow leader Mapua on Sunday.
Letran pushed out of playoff picture
It was a tough setback for the Knights, who fell out of the top four with a 7-9 record after suffering their sixth straight loss despite a monster 31-point performance from PBA-bound Pao Javillonar.
Letran raced to a 27-15 lead in the opening quarter, but faltered amidst a scoring avalanche from the Blazers, who outscored it, 32-10, and reversed the tide of the game going to the second half.
“We knew they will be a desperate team because they’re fighting for their own Final Four lives,” said Tiu of the Knights, who actually finished the first round with a 6-3 record and seemed on track to make the semis.
Making matters worse for Letran is their coming game this Sunday will be against no less than archrival and defending champion San Beda.
The Scores:
BENILDE 83 - Liwag 20, Sanchez 16, Sangco 11, Ynot 7, Torres 7, Ancheta 7, Eusebio 7, Ondoa 6, Morales 2, Cometa 0, Oli 0, Cajucom 0.
LETRAN 78 - Javillonar 31, Estrada 13, Cuajao 10, Montecillo 9, Miller 6, Nunag 5, Monje 4, Delfino 0, Pradella 0, Jumao-As 0, Dimaano 0.
Quarters: 15-27; 47-37; 62-54; 83-78
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