MANILA, Philippines – Determined to wrap up the season on a winning note, St. Benilde snapped a four game slide as it defeated Emilio Aguinaldo College, 82-73, Friday at the tail end of the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Michael Pate and Juan Taha punched in 18 and 14 points respectively, while Carlo Lastimosa and Jan Tan combined for 23 more points for the Blazers.
Notching only their sixth victory, the young Blazers’ attempt to make it to the final four was derailed due to the departure of their top slasher Lastimosa midway the season.
But even as Lastimosa mended fences with the CSB side just few games after, it was too late to save his squad’s bid.
Veteran pair Jan Jamon and Russel Yaya carried the cudgels for EAC, which never got its groove the entire game, with 20 and 17 points, in that order.