NCAA: Blazers shock Red Lions; Cardinals end slump

FEROCIOUS Jonathan Grey of St. Benilde attacks the hoop despite the “umbrella” defense put up by San Beda center Ola Adeogun in yesterday’s NCAA reversal at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines—St. Benilde forward Mark Romero wore a look of disbelief minutes after the final buzzer sounded. If it took awhile for the Blazers’ latest victory to sink in, it was totally understandable.

Finishing with a flourish, the Blazers finally toppled the giant that is San Beda, 83-76, Monday in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Mapua later completed the day of upsets with a stunning 89-81 win over San Sebastian.

Jesse Saitanan tallied 24 points and nine rebounds as the Cardinals finally barged into the win column after seven games.

The Cardinals seized control in the second period before turning to the sweet-shooting Saitanan to hold off the Stags, who lost for the second straight game and fell to a share of fifth with Jose Rizal U and St. Benilde at 3-3.

Romero fired 20 points, including 12 in the final period, as the Blazers used a fiery windup to notch the biggest upset of the season so far while posting their third straight victory.

And while the defending champion Red Lions did not relinquish top spot by falling to 5-1, it now has to share the position with another resurgent team in Arellano University.

“I still can’t believe we were able to beat San Beda,” Romero said in Filipino after the Blazers fashioned out their first win against the Lions since 2008, when San Beda was stripped off a victory by the league due to a uniform infraction by Sam Ekwe.

On the court, though, the victory was St. Benilde’s first over San Beda since 2006, when the Blazers won, 91-86, in overtime.

“Any team that beats San Beda would feel like it has won the championship,” said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco.

The Blazers played their best stretch of basketball this season at crunchtime as the Lions finally wilted in the face of searing pressure.

Romero was at the heart of the endgame attack, scoring on three consecutive layups that helped St. Benilde gain a 77-71 lead with 1:30 left after the game’s 12th and final tie at 71-all.

Blazers center Robert Bartolo capped the 8-0 blitz with a jumper, time down to a minute.

It looked like Art dela Cruz, the San Beda forward who drained the buzzer-beater that nipped the Blazers in the opening game last season, was poised to replicate his heroics with a triple to cut the deficit.

But Paolo Taha sank two free throws to put the Blazers beyond reach.

First Game

ST. BENILDE 83—Romero 20, Taha 16, Grey 15, Bartolo 9, Nayve 7, Ongtenco 6, Argamino 5, Altamirano 3, Sinco 2, Jonson 0, Saavedra 0, Mercado 0.

SAN BEDA 76—Amer 18, Adeogun 15, Dela Cruz 15, Koga 13, A. Semerad 8, Pascual 6, D. Semerad 1, Cabanag 0, Mendoza 0, Mocon 0, Sara 0, Tongco 0, Solera 0.

Quarters: 25-23, 37-37, 55-55, 83-76

Second Game

MAPUA 89—Saitanan 24, Isit 14, Gabo 14, Cantos 14, Estrella 9, Biteng 8, Eriobu 4, Layug 2, Canaynay 0, Tubiano 0.

SAN SEBASTIAN 81—Perez 22, Ortuoste 16, dela Cruz 12, Guinto 10, Yong 7, Fabian 4, Camasura 3, Calisaan 2, Costelo 0, Aquino  0.

Quarters: 16-17, 42-37, 65-58, 89-81