NCAA: St. Benilde smothers EAC for fifth win
College of St. Benilde big man Will Gozum during a game against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the NCAA Season 98. Gozum led the Blazers with a double-double. NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—College of St. Benilde continued its winning ways at the expense of a discombobulated Emilio Aguinaldo College, 73-61, in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Saturday.
The Blazers kept the Generals winless at 0-5 and forced them to turn the ball over 18 times and shoot just 32.4 percent from the field (23-of-71).
“Our defense was okay. We held them to 61 points which is below our average of points allowed. In a way it’s good, but we still had a few lapses I think,” Benilde head coach Charles Tiu said.
EAC trailed midway through the fourth quarter, 65-59, when Benilde’s Miguel Corteza hit from midrange, 67-59, with four minutes remaining. He finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Blazers, who improved to 5-1, then locked down EAC to avoid any comeback, holding the Generals to just one field the rest of the way.
Returning Migs Oczon scored a team-high 14 points for Benilde while reigning NCAA Player of the Week Will Gozum snagged another double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Allen Liwag also notched a double-double in a losing effort with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Ralph Robin and JP Maguliano scored 15 and 10, respectively, for the Generals.
