NCAA: Arellano buries St. Benilde deeper as Salado takes over

MANILA, Philippines—Arellano stretched College of St. Benilde’s misfortunes with a stunning 75-69 reversal on Friday in the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament.

Kent Salado was all over the floor and had 18 points while Gelo Sablan poured all of his 14 points in the first three quarters as the Chiefs created the separation that made them comfortable at the start of the payoff period.

The Blazers, who now lost seven of their last eight games, seemed headed to stopping the meltdown with a big run that trimmed the difference down to three points on the heroics of Justin Gutang.

Gutang, however, turned from hero to heel after committing an error in the dying seconds that allowed Kent Salado to seal the fourth win of the Chiefs in 14 games with a pair of freethrows.

It was the fifth straight setback by the Blazers (6-7), who are now a full game behind the surging Mapua Cardinals (7-6) in their race to notch a Final Four spot.

ARELLANO 75—Salado 18, Sablan 14, Arana 13, Bayla 9, Concepcion 8, Talampas 6, Oliva 5, Santos 2, Sunga 0, Alcoriza 0, Espiritu 0.

CSB 69—Gutang 15, Belgica 13, Dixon 9, Nayve 8, Haruna 6, Leutcheu 6, Carlos 5, Naboa 2, Young 2, Flores 2, Sangco 1, Lim 0.

Quarters: 13-15, 33-29, 57-47, 75-69