Bolick fires 50 points; Quinto logs another triple-double

Two big games marked Friday’s NCAA men’s basketball playdate at Filoil Flying V Centre: Robert Bolick’s scoring explosion and a second straight show of all-around expertise by Bong Quinto.

Bolick fired a career-high 50 points as defending champion San Beda crushed Arellano, 98-79, to bounce back from its first loss in the tournament and stay entrenched in second place.

Quinto, on the other hand, assembled his second straight triple-double as Letran ran down Emilio Aginaldo College, 76-56, in the other game.

Quinto finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to power the Knights to their sixth win in nine games to share third place with St. Benilde, who turned back Perpetual Help, 84-77, in another match.

Bolick turned up the heat in the second half, where he poured 37 points to tow the Lions from a slim two-point lead and into their seventh win in eight games to stay behind unbeaten Lyceum.

Aside from a logging a career-best output, Bolick also registered the highest scoring mark since Bright Akhuetie, playing for the Altas, scored 44 points three years ago.

The Chiefs skidded to 3-5.

Quinto, who had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in an 84-64 demolition of Mapua last Tuesday, has been averaging 11.6 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his last three outings.

“I hope he keeps it up,” said Letran coach Jeff Napa of Quinto.

Justin Gutang and Yankie Haruna, who fired 20 points apiece, and rookie transferee James Pasturan, who dished out his best scoring effort with 13 points, including 11 in the final canto, powered the Blazers past the Altas.