NCAA: Inspired CSB Blazers sink Lyceum Pirates

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Paolo Taha buried a shot all the way from the other side of the court to beat the halftime buzzer. It proved to be a portent of things to come for the St. Benilde Blazers.

Taha finished with 21 points as the Blazers sustained their amazing run with an emphatic 86-77 triumph over the Lyceum Pirates yesterday in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Playing with plenty of spring in his step, the muscular guard fired 12 of his output in a second-quarter breakaway that helped the Blazers clinch a fourth straight victory.

The highlight of Taha’s explosion turned out to be the heave from in front of the Blazers bench just as the first-half buzzer sounded.

With the win, the Blazers improved to 4-3, leapfrogging past their victims in the standings and forging a tie for fourth spot with the Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers.

“We’re enjoying every game and I think it has led us to this streak,” said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco. “We do not think too much about our last games. We always look forward and take a positive approach.”

Riding high on their stunning 83-76 upset of the San Beda Red Lions, the Blazers got their groove in the second period, where they outscored the Pirates 24-9 to turn a seven-point deficit into an eight-point advantage.

The scores:

ST. BENILDE 86—Taha 21, Romero 14, Bartolo 13, Nayve 10, Grey 10, Sinco 6, Saavedra 5, Ongteco 5, Jonson 2, Argamino 0, Altamirano 0.

LYCEUM 77—Gabayni 12, Mbida 12, Zamora 11, Baltazar 10, Ko 8, Bulawan 7, Malabanan 6, Elmejrab 6, Taladua 5, Soliman 0, Pamulaklakin 0.

Quarters: 18-25, 42-34, 69-49, 86-77