After getting a dose of reality against one of the league’s top teams, College of Saint Benilde regained some sense of urgency to snap a two-game losing skid in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
The Blazers lost an 11-point lead but managed to keep their composure down the stretch thanks to Paolo Taha and Mark Romero to momentarily climb out of the cellar.
CSB, with Taha leading the way with 18 points and four rebounds, improved to 2-4 to gain solo seventh in the standings.
It was a much different showing put up by the Blazers after playing horribly in the second half to suffer a 112-91 loss to Letran on Wednesday.
That effort, or seemingly lack of according to coach Richard del Rosario, came after pushing the defending champion San Beda Red Lions to the limit before dropping a 79-78 loss on July 22.
“After our game against San Beda, everybody was congratulating us na akala nila na nanalo kami,” said del Rosario. “Siguro natuwa sila na we almost beat San Beda but I told them that almost wasn’t good enough and we played lazy defense against Letran.”
In this game, St Benilde was on the verge of pulling away from the Altas when Ian de la Paz scored inside for a 67-56 lead with 9:01 left in the payoff period.
But Perpetual, behind six three-pointers, made a huge run to take its last lead at 75-73 on Anthony Paulino’s triple with 4:13 to go in the contest.
Carlo Lastimosa, who finished with 13 points, three rebounds and five assists, tied the game on a basket then the speedy Taha hit a fastbreak layup off a turnover to put the Blazers ahead for good.
A triple by Romero made it 81-75, 2:12 to go, before preventing some minor Perpetual threats in the homestretch.
“Compared to our last game it was a much better game but I’m still not happy with our defensive effort especially in the first half,” said del Rosario.
Jan Tan had 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, Romero tallied 11 points and rookie lefty Jonathan Grey produced 10 points, three rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes off the bench.
Meanwhile, La Salle Greenhills continued its winning ways in the juniors division, this time blasting Perpetual Help, 88-48.
Mario Bonleon had 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks while Thomas Torres scored 15 points aside from grabbing four rebounds and dished out two assists as the Greenies improved to 5-1.
Angelo Vito made 12 points and nine rebounds while Andre Paras, the son of PBA legend Benjie Paras, made 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 23 minutes off the bench.
Boxscores:
Juniors
LSGH 88 – Bonleon 18, Torres 15, Vito 12, Paras 10, Sy 9, Ramilo 5, Tesorero 5, Mercado 5, Yap 5, Manzano 2, Laigo 2, Sta Maria 0.
PERPETUAL 48 – Palisoc 18, Diaz 14, Dungan Ky. 5, Villarino 4, Francisco 3, Dayandante 2, Rubio 2, Alegre 0, Dungan Ka. 0.
Quarters: 35-10; 56-21; 67-34; 88-48.
Seniors
ST BENILDE 88 – Taha 18, Tan 15, Lastimosa 13, Romero 11, Grey 10, Altamirano 9, Sinco 5, de la Paz 4, McCoy 3, Pate 0, Deles 0.
PERPETUAL 83 – Thompson 23, Allen 12, Paulino 12, Vidal 11, Elopre 6, Alano 6, Asuncion 5, Sumera 4, Arboleda 3, Sison 1, Parico 0.
Quarters: 18-22; 36-40; 60-56; 88-83.
