| 85th NCAA Standings | W | L |
| San Sebastian | 6 | 0 |
| JRU | 5 | 0 |
| San Beda | 5 | 1 |
| Letran | 3 | 3 |
| St. Benilde | 3 | 4 |
| Arellano | 2 | 3 |
| EAC | 2 | 4 |
| Mapua | 1 | 4 |
| Angeles | 1 | 5 |
| Perpetual | 1 | 5 |
College of Saint Benilde was caught by surprise losing 78-73 to guest team Emilio Aguinaldo College in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City last July 27.
Coming off a slim 64-63 victory over Perpetual Help last Friday, the Blazers struggled against the Generals despite a career-high 32 points from guard Jeff Morial.
But the lack of support to Morial’s exploits, coupled with the ejections of Chuck Dalanon and Jan Tan for leaving the bench during a near altercation between MC Abolucion and EAC’s Russell Yaya in the second quarter affected CSB dearly.
The defeat sent the Blazers of new head coach Richard del Rosario back below the .500-mark at 3-4 but remained in fifth place behind idle Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Saint Benilde, which hasn’t reached the Final Four since the Sunday Salvacion-led squad lost to San Sebastian in the 2002 Finals, started the season by winning its first two games against Angeles University Foundation and Mapua Institute of Technology, respectively.
However, they have since dropped four of its next five games, including an 86-66 setback at the hands of the defending three-time champion San Beda College last July 13.
In losing to its nearby foes located along Taft Avenue and UN Avenue, Benilde had 38 rebounds but the Generals had nine more that led to several second chance opportunities.
Morial made 12-of-19 shots from the field including four triples in perhaps his best game of his collegiate career. He drained 12 points in the fourth quarter alone and trimmed the Blazers’ eight-point deficit down to 64-61 with 7:30 left to play.
But big man Ruel Jabaybay came through for the Generals in the homestretch, unveiling 10 of his 12 points on putbacks that put an end to Benilde’s comeback bid.
John Santos led EAC with 18 points with Claude Cubo adding 17 points. Argel Mendoza and Jabaybay chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively, as the Generals won their second straight contest after losing their first four.
CSB meets another guest team in former NCRAA champion Arellano University on Friday, also in San Juan City. Gametime is set at 2pm.
Earlier, CSB-La Salle Greenhills defeated EAC, 85-67, in the juniors division.
The scores:
Juniors
CSB-LSGH 85- Flores 17, Sta. Maria 13, Sy 11, Tanjueco 10, Vergara 9, Lee 8, Sayson 6, Diaz 6, Calaquian 5, Sollano 0, Miguel 0, Carlos 0
EAC 67- Alanes 27, Guinita 11, Canaynay 11, Denora 7, Booc 4, Cuello 2, Mayone 2, Onwubere 2, Magtaas 1, Ocampo 0
Quarters: 25-11; 48-27; 66-45; 85-67
Seniors
EAC 78- Santos 18, Cubo 17, Mendoza 13, Jabaybay 12, Diolanto 8, R. Yaya 6, L. Yaya 2, Liwag 1, del Rosario 1, Chiong 0
CSB 73- Morial 32, dela Paz 9, Abolucion 8, Urra 8, Umlas 7, Manlapaz 4, Argamino 2, Johnston 2, Wong 1, Tan 0, Tajonera 0, de Guzman 0, Montecastro 0
Quarters: 15-14; 38-31; 57-55; 78-73
