ST. Benilde beat bottom team Emilio Aguinaldo College, 62-56, to end its six-game losing run in the NCAA Season 95 seniors basketball tournament on Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Justin Gutang played despite the flu, coming off the bench to deliver 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal for St. Benilde, which improved its record to 7-8 to tie idle Mapua for fifth place.
"At least we got back to our winning ways," said coach TY Tang. "We've been preaching that whatever happens, we win or we learn."
It was St. Benilde's first win since its 74-66 nipping of Jose Rizal University last August 30.
The Blazers had lost eight of nine games after starting the season strong at 5-0.
Yankie Haruna led St. Benilde with 16 points, nine boards and two steals, while Edward Dixon added seven points and five rebounds.
It wasn't an easy win, as the Blazers saw a 10-point cut to two, 58-56, with a Jethro Mendoza trey with 1:07 remaining.
Haruna gave the Blazers some breathing room with an inside bucket within the final minute before their defense held on in the endgame, capped off by Mark Sangco's block on Marwin Taywan's trey in the last 20 seconds.
"We're in a blur with our situation, but we're just going to keep on fighting," said Tang
It was also the former Rain or Shine guard's first taste of victory since July 30 when the Blazers edged San Sebastian, 77-72. He was serving a suspension when St. Benilde beat JRU.
EAC fell to a 3-13 record in the standings.
JP Maguliano led the Generals with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Taywan and JC Luciano both had 11 points.
The scores:
St. Benilde 62 - Haruna 16, Gutang 12, Dixon 7, Carlos 6, Nayve 6, Flores 5, Naboa 3, Belgica 2, Lim 2, Mosqueda 2, Sangco 1, Young 0.
EAC 56 - Maguliano 12, Luciano 11, Taywan 11, Gurtiza 10, Mendoza 8, Boffa 2, De Guzman 2, Cadua 0, Carlos 0, Corilla 0, Dayrit 0, Estacio 0, Gonzales 0, Martin 0.
Quarterscores: 13-14; 31-32; 52-44; 62-56.
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