FILE – St. Benilde Blazers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–College of St. Benilde doesn’t really mind chasing its rivals up and down the floor for extended stretches as long as the ending takes a favorable twist.
The Blazers encountered stiff resistance before gutting out an 82-77 win at the expense of the Arellano Chiefs for a share of the lead with the San Beda Red Lions on Tuesday night in the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament.
Seldom-used guard Robi Nayve made them feel safe by swishing consecutive threes, creating the separation needed for the Blazers to hold off the Chiefs and secure their fifth win in a row in the company of the unbeaten Lions.
Nayve’s back-to-back threes near the end of the third finally disentangled the Blazers from a stubborn Arellano side, which suffered its sixth defeat after seven outings.
CSB 82—Leutcheu 13, Gutang 12, Haruna 11, Pasturan 10, Nayve 9, Dixon 8, Naboa 7, Carlos 5, Flores 3, Belgica 2, Lepalam 2, Sanco 0, Young 0, Velasco 0.
ARELLANO 77—Arana 25, Sablan 11, Salado 10, Espiritu 8, Talampas 6, Oliva 6, Alcoriza 5, Santos 5, Concepcion 1, Bayla 1, De Guzman 0.
Quarters: 18-13, 35-34, 60-52, 82-77