Blazers check slide, turn back Bombers

St. Benilde displayed enough firepower to overcome the absence of its suspended coach and a fallen teammate and turn back a feisty Jose Rizal side, 7466, yesterday to stay at second place in the 95th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Justin Gutang fired 14 points while Carlo Young chipped in 13, including three booming treys as the Blazers claimed their sixth win against two losses while priming up for their duel with fellow Final Four contender Letran (5-3) on Friday.

“It was a physical game. We’re fortunate we got the win,” said CSB assistant coach Charles Tiu, whose head coach TY Tang served a one-game suspension and player Jimbo Pasturan out for the rest of the season due to a dislocated left shoulder.

The Bombers sputtered to their sixth defeat against three wins.

After gaining the early upper hand, the Blazers lost their concentration in the second quarter that allowed the Bombers, behind Agem Miranda’s gamehigh 20 points, to claw their way back and even snatch a 29-28 lead at the break.

But CSB rediscovered its form and tightened the defensive screws in the second half to hold on to the win that snapped a twogame slide.

In the other game, San Sebastian trounced Emilio Aguinaldo, 86-65, to barge into the top four with a 5-3 card.

The Generals sank to 1-8. The scores: First Game St. Benilde 74 – Gutang 14, Young 13, Dixon 10, Haruna 9, Belgica 6, Naboa 5, Nayve 5, Leutcheu 4, Carlos 4, Flores 4, Sangco 0.

Jose Rizal 66 – Miranda 20, Amores 14, Dionisio 13, Delos Santos 6, Arenal 6, Aguilar 4, Dela Rosa 3, Jungco 0, Macatangay 0. Quarterscores: 17-12; 28-29; 46-41; 74-66 Second Game San Sebastián 86 – Capobres 20, Bulanadi 14, Calahat 12, Ilagan 11, Villapando 8, Calma 6, Altamirano 5, Desoyo 4, Sumoda 4, Loristo 2, Dela Cruz 0, Tero 0, Cosari 0.

EAC 65 – Gurtiza 16, Maguliano 12, Tampoc 9, Mendoza 8, Luciano 5, Gonzales 5, Taywan 3, Cadua 3, De Guzman 3, Martin 1, Carlos 0, Corilla 0, Estacio 0, Dayrit 0, Boffa 0.

Quarterscores: 23-17; 44-29; 60-44; 86-65