COLLEGE of St. Benilde kept in step with its rivals in Group A of the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball tournament after escaping Lyceum 107-103 on a rainy Friday afternoon at the San Andres Gym in Manila.
Not even the 15 minute delay near the end of the second quarter would cool down the Blazers as they picked up from they left off after that massive 35-point first quarter which had them taking a 16-point lead after the first 10 minutes, a lead they'd never relinquish for the wire-to-wire, albeit scary win.
Matthew Jucom and SJ Moore took turns in pummeling the Pirates in the first half before Jhomel Ancheta and John Mowell Morales joined the party in the second half as the Blazers led by as many as 23 points in the win which had them tied once again with the JRU Heavy Bombers and the San Beda Red Lions atop the group with an 8-3 record.
Still, the Blazers had to fend off one last rally from the Pirates — which certainly made the Blazers sweat in the final minute.
Fittingly, Jucom was one of the players who stepped up once more late, hitting a three to extend the lead to nine, before Ian Torres drained another three-pointer to negate the three previous free throws Renz Villegas hit on the other end and extend the Blazers' lead back to nine.
Undeterred by the stubborn Blazers, Villegas and the Pirates kept coming. The fiery point guard went on a personal 7-2 run in a 26-second stretch to come to within four, and then forced another turnover with 18 seconds left in the game.
That's when the Pirates ran out of wind, with Matthew Rubico missing a three-pointer as time expired.
Jucom paced the Blazers with 23 points anchored on five three-pointers, alongside seven rebounds and two steals. Moore finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, Morales also finished with 18 while Ancheta had a double-double of 17 points and 10 assists.
Rubico led the now 4-7 Pirates with 28 points while Villegas added 26 points. Together, coach Jamike Jarin's backcourt made a living from the line — combining to shoot 29-33 in between them.
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