College of Saint Benilde snapped a six-game losing streak as it overcame a second quarter meltdown to edge past Perpetual Help, 79-70, in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan on August 16.
The Blazers leaned on big man Tim McCoy in the fourth quarter to end the first round with two wins and six defeats tying Emilio Aguinaldo College for sixth spot in the nine-team league.
McCoy had eight points in the fourth quarter including a three-point play that pushed CSB up 66-58 with 7:53 left and never looked back.
The former Philippine Christian University Dolphin finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in just 26 minutes off the bench that impressed coach Richard del Rosario.
“He’s been a good contributor but sometimes he’s too eager, maybe because he spent a year of residency,” said del Rosario of McCoy.
Although happy to see CSB win, del Rosario rued premature celebrations from his team.
“My problem with them is they tend to celebrate when the game is not over,” said del Rosario.
An example came when lanky Jan Tan scored a potential three-point play off a foul from guard Jonas Kintanar that extended the Blazers lead to 77-61 lead. Tan then waved both arms that irked the former PBA center.
Tan would miss his bonus try that earned more ire from del Rosario.
St Benilde actually led 33-16 as MC Abolucion, who finished with 11 markers, drained a triple with under seven minutes left in the second period only to see the Altas, behind Arnold Danganan, Mark Sumara and Jet Vidal, answer back with 18 consecutive points to take the lead.
Perpetual, eager to win its first game after a 0-7 slate, appeared to have completely gained control of the contest when it led 54-50 in the third canto but consecutive threes by Abolucion pushed CSB up for good, 56-54.
Carlo Lastimosa topscored with 21 points for St Benilde and added six rebounds and four assists while Tan registered 11 points and five rebounds. Ian dela Paz chipped in 10.
The game, though, was marred by rough play that saw Danganan and Mark de Guzman on two altercations.
Danganan, who topscored for Perpetual with 22 points, was assessed with a Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 for hitting de Guzman with 2:30 left before repeating the same action on the ensuing possession that earned him an ejection.
Jet Vidal had 19 points while Justine Alano added nine points and 14 rebounds but the Altas ended the first round winless in eight games.
Perpetual suffered its 17th consecutive defeat dating back to the start of last year’s second round hostilities.
Juniors
CSB-La Salle Greenhills continued its losing skid after suffering a 62-54 defeat to Perpetual in the 86th NCAA juniors basketball tournament.
Joshua Alolino, a member of the RP U-18 team, registered 20 points while Antonio Inigo added 11 markers for the Altalettes.
It was the fourth consecutive defeat for the Greenies, who played minus Michael Pate because of his commitments with the RP team in the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympics 3-on-3 tournament as an alternate to Jeron Teng, Cris Tolomia and Ray Parks.
CSB-LSGH fell to 3-5.
The scores:
Juniors
Perpetual 62- Alolino 20, Inigo 11, Negranza 9, Sadiwa 8, Garcia 8, Brito 6, Palisoc 0, Pascual 0, Diaz 0, Bitoy 0
CSB-LSGH 54- Torres 11, Pumaren 8, Villaruz 7, Vergara 6, Diaz 5, Bonleon 4, Marcial 4, Sta. Maria 3, Carlos 2, Trajano 2, Sayson 2, Sy 0, Vito 0
Quarters: 14-10; 30-24; 42-41; 62-54
Seniors
ST BENILDE 79 – Lastimosa 21, McCoy 12, Tan 11, Abolucion 11, de la Paz 10, de Guzman 5, Argamino 5, Wong 4, Nayve 0, Sinco 0, Manalac 0, Amin 0.
PERPETUAL 70 – Danganan 22, Vidal 19, Alano 9, Sumera 6, Asuncion 5, Allen 2, Kintanar 2, Ynion 2, Jolangcob 2, Arboleda 1, Elopre 0, Sison 0.
Quarters: 19-13; 39-41; 58-56; 79-70.