MANILA – St. Benilde and Lyceum yesterday pulled out contrasting wins to strengthen campaign in the senior’s men basketball of the 90th NCAA at The Arena in San Juan City.
St. Benilde blew hot and cold and hot again as it turned back a feisty Mapua, 79-72, to book its second straight victory while Lyceum overcame a faltering Emilio Aguinaldo, 73-67, to leapfrog to solo fourth spot with 4-1 record.
Skipper Mark Romero came through with a career-high 26 points, including five in the final three minutes, when the Blazers unleashed an 11-5 run to turn a one-point deficit into a win, their second straight after pulling the rug from under last year's runner up Letran, 85-71, last Monday.
Jonathan Grey scattered 17 points on top of six rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block to help St. Benilde improve to a 2-3 (win-loss) record."These guys are making a statement that we're heartbreak kids no more," said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco.
The Blazers nearly blew it though as they watched their 18-point lead, their biggest in the game, early in the third quarter vanish as the Cardinals whipped up a series of runs that saw them seize a 68-67 lead on a two free throws by Carlos Isit with a little over three minutes to go.
It turned out Mapua's last hurrah as Paolo Taha, Grey and Romero scored in succession to turn the tide back in St. Benilde's favor.
Mapua, which was led by Leo Gabo's 16 points, fell to its sixth straight defeat.
Lyceum leaned on Wilson Baltazar's fourth quarter eruption and Joseph Gabayni's double-double effort.
Baltazar poured in nine of his game-best 20 points in the final period while Gabayni posted his third straight double-double performance with 14 points and 11 rebounds on top of three blocks to help the Pirates nail their fourth win in six matches.
The Generals fell to their fourth straight defeat to slide to 1-4.*PNA
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