INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Composure isn't exactly one of St. Benilde Blazers' strongest suits the past few years.

But it turned out to be the security blanket that separated them from feisty newcomer Angeles University Foundation.

The Blazers, who have not cracked the Final Four since 2002, flirted with disaster before pulling away late in the fourth quarter for an 87-76 victory over the debuting Great Danes in the 85th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

In a battle of debuting squads, Arellano University brandished a mean form that had the league taking notice, whipping Emilio Aguinaldo College, 80-61.

The Blazers and Chiefs joined opening-day winners San Beda, Jose Rizal U and San Sebastian on top of the standings after two playing dates.

Four AUF key players fouled out, paving the way for a strong finish by St. Benilde behind Angelo Montecastro and Chuck Dalanon, who combined for 13 of the Blazers’ last 16 points.

Montecastro finished with 20 points and Dalanon added 18 for the Blazers, who missed 23 of 42 free throws.

“I’m happy with the effort of the players,” said St. Benilde new coach Richard del Rosario. “It feels so good to win the first game but we have to work on our maturity and free throw shooting.”

Del Rosario also acknowledged AUF’s efforts, saying it was never an easy game for them considering that AUF is just new in NCAA.

“They never gave up until the last minute and there were times that our team lost the control of the ball,” he said, adding the Blazers need to improve their composure to avoid “gaining points yet earning fouls.”

Reed-thin swingman Adrian Celada fired a game-high 19 points as the Arellano Chiefs outscored the Generals, 53-22, in the second and third quarters to put the game to bed going into the final period, 64-38.

“I told the players to stay aggressive and work hard,” said Arellano’s first-year coach Junjie Ablan, whose squad forced 29 turnovers that led to 27 points. “Everyone just stepped up today.”

Earlier, St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills crushed AUF, 117-41, and Arellano overwhelmed EAC, 83-61, in junior play.

Coming off a two-hour bus ride from Angeles City, the Great Danes looked weary in the first quarter and the Blazers greeted them with a 13-3 opening salvo spearheaded by Montecastro.

The Great Danes committed more turnovers than field goals in the first half and were limited to just 13 field goals in the first two quarters.

But they hung tough behind Matt Carney, Limmuel Manarang and Arnel Fuertez, whose layup got the Great Danes within one point, 26-27.

Fuertez led the Great Danes with 18 points.

Tagline: With Marjorie Gorospe, INQUIRER.net

The scores:

First Game (Jrs)

LSGH 117—Flores 21, Pate 19, Pumaren 12, Tanjuenco 12, Trajano 9, Sy 9, Trajano 7, Sta. Maria 6, Lee 6, Calaquian 5, Carlos 4, Sollano 3, Diaz 2, Miguel 2, Sayson 0.

AUF 41—Gando 20, Lakandula 6, Maniti 5, Olalia 4, Cayanan 3, Castillejos 3, Dizon 0, Tamayo 0, Laxamana 0.

Quarters: 35-9, 65-11, 91-27, 117-41

Second Game (Jrs)

ARELLANO 83—Pagayunan 27, Cruz 17, Tolentino 15, de Leon 8, Caperal 7, Guzman 4, Perucho 3, Gurrobat 2, Abejar 0, Regalado 0, Kiyoumarsi 0.

EAC 61—Alanes 20, Cayanan 17, Booc 13, Cuello 5, Guinita 4, Denora 2, Mayone 0, Onwubere 0, Ocampo 0, Padrones 0, Julian 0.

Quarters: 24-11, 44-26, 61-43, 83-61

Third Game (Srs)

ST. BENILDE 87—Montecastro 20, Dalanon 18, Johnston 12, Morial 10, Manalac 8, Abolucion 4, de Guzman 4, Tajonera 3, Urra 2, dela Paz 2, Tan 0, Argamino.

ANGELES 76—Fuertez 18, Manarang 16, Carney 11, Santos 11, Maniago 9, Dumlao 4, Gigante 3, Musni 2, Gomez 2, Henson 0, Cayanan 0.

Quarters: 23-13, 40-33, 65-55, 87-76

Fourth Game (Srs)

ARELLANO 80—Celada 19, G. Ciriacruz 13, I. Ciriacruz 11, Tayongtong 9, Apostol 8, Miranda 7, Reducto 6, Agustin 3, Virtudazo 2, Rivera 2, Dimla 0, Catapang 0.

EAC 62—Santos 13, Mendoza 10, Cubo 10, R. Yaya 9, Jabaybay 9, Del Rosario 6, L. Yaya 5, Sablan 0, Ong 0, Chiong 0.

Quarters: 11-16, 38-29, 64-38, 80-62