NCAA: Will Gozum, St. Benilde foil Mapua

St. Benilde’s Will Gozum. –NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Will Gozum’s season-game pushed College of St. Benilde back in the win column as the Blazers trounce Mapua, 85-72, in the second round of the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Wednesday.

The Blazers and Gozum, who finished with a season-high 25 points and eight rebounds, used a deciding late game rally to improve to an 8-2 record.

“Mapua really defended (Migs) Oczon but Will and Miggy (Corteza), they stepped up big time and they got a lot of easy buckets so I give them all the credit. They played hard and that’s the effort I expect out of them,” coach Charles Tiu said. 

The Cardinals, who fell to a 2-9 card for the season, trailed by just two points in the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, 66-64.

Benilde then unloaded a game-deciding 14-1 rally to stretch the lead to 80-65 and shut the door on another upset loss.

The Blazers, who lost to Emilio Aguinaldo College on Sunday, also limited Mapua to a measly eight points in the payoff period.

Corteza also had a solid outing for the Blazers with 22 points and eight rebounds.

Warren Bonifacio poured 21 markers and six boards. J.J. Pido finished with 13 while Toby Agustin scored 12.

https://www.facebook.com/inquirersports/videos/648880593555032/

The Scores:

CSB 85 — Gozum 25, Corteza 22, Cullar 8, Oczon 6, Nayve 6, Sangco 5, Carlos 5, Pasturan 2, Marcos 2, Lepalam 2, Flores 2, Davis 0.

MAPUA 72 — Bonifacio 21, Pido 13, Agustin 12, Hernandez 10, Nocum 6, Cuenco 5, Soriano 3, Salenga 2, Mercado 0, Lacap 0, Garcia 0, Parinas 0.

Quarters: 24-16, 40-42, 61-64, 85-72.