Next Game on August 11
(The Arena, San Juan)
10 a.m. San Beda vs CSB-LSGH (Jrs)
2 p.m. San Beda vs St Benilde (Srs)
Not a way to end a rough week for the College of Saint Benilde Blazers.
The Blazers continued their struggles after a suffering a heartbreaking 65-63 overtime loss to Mapua in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan on August 6.
In a see-saw battle, the green-and-black cagers appeared to be on the verge of pulling off an upset victory but Allan Mangahas hit a booming triple that eventually propelled the Cardinals to win their third consecutive game.
St Benilde suffered its fifth consecutive defeat and fell to eighth place with a 1-5 slate. The squad of coach Richard del Rosario hasn’t won a game since a 70-64 win over Arellano on July 5.
It was a disappointing end to a hectic week for the Blazers as they lost all three scheduled games. Aside from a 75-74 defeat to defending champion San Sebastian on Monday, they were handed a 70-54 beating by shorthanded Letran two days later.
Carlo Lastimosa led the team with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists while lanky center Jan Tan came off the bench to produce 14 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Mark de Guzman added nine points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Lastimosa sent to the game into overtime when he drained a three-pointer with 12.3 seconds left to tie the game at 59-all.
Tan then hit a jumper for CSB’s final lead at 61-60 before Mangahas uncorked a triple that put Mapua ahead, 63-61, and big man Mark Sarangay split his charities to extend the lead to three with under a minute left.
de Guzman drove for a basket to cut the lead to one (64-63) then the Cardinals’ Macky Acosta hit just one of two shots from the foul line with eight ticks left. De Guzman tried for a desperation triple but failed to hit the mark at the buzzer.
Mangahas, the 2008 Rookie of the Year, finished with 25 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals while Sarangay had eight points and 21 rebounds for Mapua, which is now in solo third with five wins and two defeats.
The scores:
MAPUA 65 – Mangahas 25, Acosta 11, Sarangay 8, Cornejo 6, Parala 5, Banal 4, Guillermo 4, Maniego 2, Stevens 0, Ranises 0.
ST BENILDE 63 – Lastimosa 21, Tan 13, De Guzman 9, Mañalac 9, Wong 5, Abolucion 3, Sinco 2, Amin 1, McCoy 0, Nayve 0, Dela Paz 0.
Quarters: 16-18; 29-33; 49-47; 59-59; 65-63
Juniors
CSB-La Salle Greenhills suffered its second straight defeat when it bowed to MIT-Malayan High School of Science, 72-68, in the 86th NCAA juniors basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The Greenies led by nine points entering the fourth quarter but a sluggish showing allowed the Red Robins to climb back and steal the ballgame away.
The stunning defeat dropped LSGH down to an even 3-3 slate to tie Letran for fifth spot.
Letran, last year’s finalist, also beat the Greenies, 68-64, on Wednesday.
RP U-18 team standout and Singapore Youth Olympic Games-bound Michael Pate registered 13 points and 10 rebounds while Richie Villaruz added and guard Thomas Torres added 12 and 10 points, apiece.
Rodolfo Alejandro had 23 points and Ian Valdez added 17 as Mapua gained solo fourth spot with four wins and three defeats.
The scores:
MIT-MALAYAN 72 – Alejandro 23, Valdez 17, Estrella 11, Basas 8, Mena 6, Sevilla 6, Dela Cruz 1, Aviso 0, Castillo 0, De Castro 0.
CSB-LSGH 68 – Pate 13, Villaruz 12, Torres 10, Trajano 8, Bonleon 5, Carlos 5, Marcial 4, Sta. Maria 4, Pumaren 4, Vergara 3, Vito 0.
Quarters: 22-13; 33-40; 48-57; 72-68.
