Blazers keep Knights down

NO, YOU CAN’T Kevin Alas of Letran (right) thwarts a driving Joseph Tolentino of St. Benilde in yesterday’s game. August dela Cruz

St. Benilde just added to Letran’s early-season woes.

Joel Tolentino sparked St. Benilde’s second-half breakaway as the Blazers shocked the Knights, 77-60, yesterday in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Tolentino posted 17 points on top of seven rebounds and three assists to help the Blazers pull off a surprise 17-point rout against a Letran side that surprisingly skidded to its third straight loss.

The Blazers opened the final quarter with a 15-6 spurt that turned a 56-50 lead into a 71-56 gap with Mark Romero and Jonathan Grey joining hands with Tolentino.

“This is a very important win for us because it keeps our heads above water,” said coach Richard del Rosario after his Blazers rose to 2-2.

Already struggling to recover from back-to-back upsets, the Knights headed into the game minus big men Jam Cortes, who served a one-game suspension, and Raymond Almazan, who sat it out due to an illness.

The Knight’s loss came after their surprise setbacks against Perpetual Help (66-69) and the erstwhile winless Arellano (67-77).

In juniors action, Mapua clinched its second win in three games with Justin Serrano collecting 18 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in the Red Robins’ 101-50 rout of Emilio Aguinaldo College.

Rey Nambatac scored 37 points, 11 rebounds and four steals to lift Letran past La Salle Green Hills, 77-71, for a 1-1 record.

The scores:

First Game (Jrs)
LETRAN 77—Nambatac 37, Quinto 15, Villanueva 13, Geli 4, Ramos 4, Galleon 2, Sazon 2, Alas 0, Abao 0.
LSGH 71—Laigo 14, Bonleon 13, Yap 11, Bolick 9, Mercado 7, Paras A. 5, Barrera 4, Ramilo 4, Paras K. 2, Sy 2, Rangel 0.
Quarters: 14-12, 25-30, 55-43, 77-71

Second Game (Jrs)
MAPUA 101—Serrano 18, Guzman 13, Villasenor 13, Diego 13, Cabural 12, Reyes 10, Coprado 6, Lugo 5, Magpayo 3, Garcia 3, Perez 3, Tolentino 2.
EAC 50—Tiano 8, Anatacio 6, Stevens 6, Magtaas 6, Bacarisa 5, Piopongco A. 4, Crisostomo 4, Redido 4, Urbina 3, Dultra 2, Fandialan 2, Piopongco J. 0, Cabral 0, Perez 0, Meana 0.
Quarters: 32-14; 50-26; 76-33; 101-50

Third Game (Srs)
ST. BENILDE 77—Tolentino 17, Romero 13, Taha 10, Lastimosa 10, Grey 9, Bartolo 7, Sinco 5, Ongteco 4, Tan 2, Maconocido 0, Deles 0.
LETRAN 60—Racal 18, Cruz 13, Ke. Alas 11, Belorio 6, Olotu 5, Lituatia 4, Kr. Alas 2, Cudal 1, Luib 0, Almario 0, Pantin 0.
Quarters: 17-23, 35-40, 56-50, 77-60