Games on Monday
(FilOil EcoOil Arena)
8:30 a.m. – LPU vs AU (Jrs/Srs)
2:30 p.m. – San Beda vs EAC (Jrs/Srs)
COLLEGE of St. Benilde (CSB) survived the absence of reigning MVP Allen Liwag for the second straight game after it repulsed upset-conscious Jose Rizal University (JRU), 73-65, to seize the solo Group B lead in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
Raffy Celis and Justine Sanchez filled in the massive void left by Mr. Liwag, who remained out due to flu-like symptoms, in helping propel the CSB Blazers to their third straight victory in four starts and straight to No. 1 in the second bracket.
The Messrs. Celis-Sanchez pair took turns in scoring their team’s final eight points with three minutes to go that quashed the last hope of the JRU Bombers to turn things around in their favor while sealing the runners-up a season ago the win.
Mr. Celis ended up firing a game-high 20 points with five rebounds and four steals while Mr. Sanchez had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.
“We weathered the storm,” said CSB coach Charles Tiu.
JRU, which came into the showdown a few days after shell-shocking San Beda University, 67-66, almost pulled off another upset after roaring back from a deficit as high as 11 points at the half and cutting it to just two points, 65-63, on three foul shots by Sean Salvador with 2.52 minutes to go.
But it proved to be the Nani Epondulan-mentored Bombers’ last show of resistance as Mr. Celis and Mr. Sanchez each scored four points in that decisive 8-2 run.
JRU fell to 2-2 but not without receiving heaps of praise from Mr. Tiu.
“Give credit to JRU. They’re a really good team and they play so hard. Those kids are young but man, they’re legit,” said Mr. Tiu. — Joey Villar
The scores:
CSB 73 – Celis 20, Sanchez 17, Morales 7, Ancheta 5, Umali 5, Moore 5, Oli 5, Gaspay 3, Eusebio 2, Cajucom 2, Ynot 1, Galas 1, Jalalon 0
JRU 65 – Salvador 13, Peñaverde 11, Argente 9, Lozano 9, Benitez 7, Panapanaan 5, Laurenaria 5, Garupil 4, Herrera 2, Duque 0, Castillo 0, Sarmiento 0
Quarterscores: 22-19; 42-34; 55-51; 73-65
