NCAA: St. Benilde zooms to 3-0 start, routs Perpetual Help
Perpetual’s Lean Martel vs St. Benilde’s Will Gozum in the NCAA Season 98. –NCAA/GMA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—College of St. Benilde continued its hot season opening run at the expense of Perpetual Help, 81-64, in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Tuesday.
The Blazers moved up to 3-0 as the league’s lone undefeated team so far but Benilde’s head coach Charles Tiu said it was nothing to celebrate about.
Article continues after this advertisement“It’s only been three games, we have a long way to go. We still haven’t faced Letran, San Beda and Mapua, those three teams are consistent Final Four contenders so still a long way to go for us,” Tiu said.
The Blazers were stuck on a tight affair with the Altas at the end of the first half, 33-32, but unloaded a 23-8 surge, including six triples, early in the third quarter to take an insurmountable lead, 56-40.
The Altas could not find their beat in the final period where they trailed by as much as 25, 69-44.
Article continues after this advertisementWill Gozum powered Benilde with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Miguel Corteza finished with 15 markers while Rob Nayve helped with 12.
Rey Barcuma scored 14 on a losing effort for Perpetual Help as Kim Aurin and Cyrus Nitura tallied 13 and 12 markers, respectively.
