Benilde earns first win in Filoil, brushes off Mapua

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

College of St. Benilde started off its campaign in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup with a resounding victory over Mapua, 64-49, Wednesday at the tournament’s namesake arena.

This was the first game of head coach TY Tang in a major preseason league and from the looks of things, it seems the former De La Salle stalwart has employed a defense-first system.

The Blazers put the Cardinals in a vice grip allowing Mapua to just six points while closing out the fourth quarter and scoring 23 in the process.

“I want to put an emphasis on defense, hardwork, and the intensity we put out each and every game,” the 32-year-old Tang said. “We held them to 49 points and that’s what we’re talking about the whole time we’ve been together.”

Benilde outscored Mapua 11-2 in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter to deny the Cardinals an opening game win.

The Blazers’ stingy defense held the Cardinals to 32 percent shooting, 21-of-66, but what was more impressive was Mapua only had four free throw attempts and made just one.

Benilde had no player score in double digits but had seven Blazers making at least six points, with Gerard Francisco leading the way with nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Christian Bunag had 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead Mapua. /atm