Migs Oczon and St. Benilde Blazers. –NCAA/GMA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—College of St. Benilde spoiled James Kwekuteye’s career game and beat San Beda, 78-69, in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Sunday.
The graduating Kwekuteye scored 28 points, his highest output in his collegiate stint, in the Red Lions’ losing effort against a more composed Blazers.
“James played great, he was solid but I give credit to the guys, especially my guards because they made him work. He didn’t have easy shots and he had to work for his shots,” Benilde coach Charles Tiu said.
Migs Oczon sizzled with 19 points for the Blazers while Will Gozum tallied a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Miguel Corteza and Robi Nayve also chipped in 11 and 10, respectively.
The Blazers were only leading by three, 66-63, late in the fourth quarter when Migs Oczon sank a triple from the left wing to push the lead to 69-63 with 3:20 remaining.
The Red Lions converted buckets of their own to keep Benilde within five, 71-66, but Oczon’s hot hands sealed the deal for the Blazers with another three ball and a layup to put them up 76-67 with 30 ticks left.
The league-leading St. Benilde hiked its record to 7-1 while San Beda, which has been struggling with consistency all season long, failed to make it back to back and dropped to 5-3.
Gab Cometa was the second leading scorer for the Red Lions with 10 points on an efficient 50 percent shooting clip, sinking five of his 10 attempts.
The Scores:
Benilde (78) — Oczon 19, Gozum 16, Corteza 11, Nayve 10, Carlos 5, Cullar 4, Sangco 4, Lepalam 4, Pasturan 3, Marcos 2, Flores 0, Cajucom 0.
San Beda (69) — Kwekuteye 28, Cometa 10, Bahio 9, Ynot 8, Sanchez 5, Alfaro 3, Andrada 2, Cortez 2, Payosing 2, Jopia 0, Visser 0, Cuntapay 0.
Quarterscores: 17-14, 37-31, 51-49, 78-69