NCAA: St. Benilde, JRU turn back foes

Photo by Ejay Amador/NCAA.org.ph

MANILA—College of St. Benilde gambled with its zone defense all game long and it paid off.

The Blazers forced the Cardinals to shoot bricks from beyond the arc in bunches, before showing steely resolve in the endgame for a stunning 70-67 victory yesterday at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

“We all wanted to get out of that slump,” said St. Benilde coach Richard del Rosario, after the Blazers posted their first victory in three games. “We stuck with our zone and luckily for us, it worked.”

Jose Rizal U also broke into the win column with a 76-60 rout of Emilio Aguinaldo College in the first game to tie the Blazers at seventh with a 1-2 record.

Rookie guard Byron Villarias led JRU in scoring for the second straight game, finishing with 12 points, while John Lopez wound up with 11 points and 11 rebounds to boost the Bombers, who seized control early with their suffocating full-court press.

Still on a high following a morale-boosting victory over Arellano, the Generals couldn’t find their rhythm in the first half, making just seven field goals.

The Bombers built 20-point leads twice in the second half only for the Generals to trim the gap to 50-60 with four minutes remaining.

JRU responded with five straight points to finally take the fight out of the Generals.

“Our defense was the best form of attack in this game,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses. “We wanted to take away their confidence early.”

JRU forced 32 turnovers that led to 30 points by the Bombers.

The scores:
First Game
JRU 76—Villarias 12, Lopez 11, Carampil 10, Apinan 9, Montemayor 9, Dela Paz 8, Kabigtig 8, Almario 7, Mendoza 2, Monserat 0.
EAC 60—Torralba 17, Jamon 15, Cubo 7, Paguia 6, Vargas 6, Diolanto 6, King 3, Morada 0, Sanchez 0, Yaya 0, Chiong 0.
Quarters: 16-11, 37-21, 56-42, 76-60
Second Game
ST. BENILDE 70—Tan 15, Lastimosa 11, Romero 11, Grey 10, Altamirano 8, Dela Paz 5, Mccoy 4. Taha 3, Sinco 3, Pate 0.
MAPUA 67—Ighalo 12, Sarangay 10, Mangahas 10, Nimes 9, Banal 9, Cantos 6, Ranises 6, Pascual 4, Stevens 1, Parala 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 33-30, 56-57, 70-67