FilOil: Benilde Blazers eke out win versus Altas in NCAA battle

In an all-NCAA match-up, the College of Saint Benilde Blazers dropped the University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta Altas, 78-74, in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup elimination round, Wednesday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

The Blazers started the game flat, conceding a 16-6 advantage midway through the first thanks to lax transition defense. But CSB was able to hang on thanks to their incursions in the lane, including a 20-3 run to end the first half. Late in the game it was Benilde's turn to make a killing in transition, as Paolo Taha and JR Ongengco made key baskets to seal the win.

"I think we need a lot to learn, especially when they run something and we're not able to handle it. Hopefully before the start of the season [we can make adjustments]," said Blazers head coach Gabby Velasco.

Velasco added that his team needs to be careful with questioning the officiating, especially non-calls against them. "Slowly nare-realize rin naman nila. I've been reminding each and every one before and during the game," he said, adding that he hopes such bad habits take care of themselves come the NCAA season.

Taha notched 16 points, while Mark Romero added 13 points and five rebounds. JR Ongteco added 12 markers, nine rebounds and four blocks.

The Blazers improved to 2-3 while Perpetual Help slid back to 1-4 in Group A play.

The Altas took advantage of the Blazers' poor transition defense in the first quarter, posting a 16-6 lead with under four minutes to play on a breakaway lay-up by Harold Arboleda. Benilde scored in a hurry, as a mid-range jumper by Robert Bartolo sparked a 7-3 Blazers run. However, they gave up fouls to Nosa Omorogbe in the final minute, allowing the Altas to lead 21-14 after the first period.

In the second quarter, the Altas' penetration helped them widen the gap, 29-19. However Perpetual Help couldn't sustain it when Benilde began to actively contest shots. The Blazers' offense followed suit as Paolo Taha and Jonathan Grey combined for nine, and Travis Jonson chipped in two treys in the final minute, allowing them to close the last five minutes on a 20-3 run, good for a 39-32 lead at halftime.

The Blazers shot 12-of-27 in the first half (44 percent) against Perpetual Help's 11-of-32 (34 percent). CSB also made 12-of-19 free throws (63 percent), while the Altas were just  7-of-12 (34 percent).


Benilde got by early in the third quarter by locating the open man and led by as much as eight points, 47-39. However, they were bothered by Justine Alano and Omorogbe's activity beneath the basket, as the duo cut their deficit to 49-44.

Perpetual Help adjusted to CSB's drive-and-kick sets and began connecting from midrange on the other end, as Kervin Lucente knocked down consecutive shots to knot the game at 52-apiece with a minute to play. A G-Jay Ylagan triple answered Mark Romero charities to briefly gave Perpetual Help a one-point lead, but Dexter Garcia had the final say of the period to preserve a 56-55 Blazers lead.

The Altas kept the Blazers within four points in the fourth quarter. However it was the small things that hurt them, like a turnover leading to a Taha fast break, and a put-back by Fons Saavedra, that put them behind, 65-62.

Chris Elopre gave the Altas a boost as he found ways to score at the rim. However, Benilde countered quickly as they pushed the ball off Perpetual Help's misses, and a Taha and-one made it a 70-68 game with under three minutes to play.

Perpetual Help trailed off as they struggled to convert on their penetrations, as Alano and Omorogbe settled for split charities on separate possessions. Meanwhile the Blazers continued to pounce in the open court, 74-72, with 48.9 seconds remaining.

The Altas tried to isolate Omorogbe with no success. They then resorted to fouling the Blazers after a Baloria drive, 76-74, with 6.7 ticks left. Saavedra went to the line and made two, putting the game out of Perpetual Help's reach.

The Blazers shot 26-of-59 for the game (44 percent) against the Altas' 23-of-69 percent (33 percent). Perpetual Help also didn't capitalize on charities, going 22-of-35 (63 percent) including Omorogbe's 8-of-18 mark. On the other hand, CSB made 21-of-30 (70 percent) from the line.

CSB also tallied a 12-7 advantage in fast break points.

Nosa Omorogbe put up 16 points, while Justine Alano added 14 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Elopre and Juneric Baloria put up 10 points apiece; the former issued four assists and the latter had six boards. Harold Arboleda had 10 rebounds to go with six points. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

CSB 78: Taha 16, Romero 13, Ongteco 12, Jonson 9, Grey , Sinco 5, Saavedra 4, Deles 4, Bartolo 2, Garcia 2, De Guzman 2, Nayve 1, Agramino 0

UPHSD 74: Omorogbe 16, Alano 14, Elopre 10, Baloria 10, Ylagan 9, Arboleda 7, Lucente 6, Dizon 2, Jolangcob 0, Bantayan 0

Quarter scoring: 13-21, 39-32, 56-55, 78-74