De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde unleashed a shooting spree in the third quarter to pull away from University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 81-64, and remain undefeated in the NCAA Season 98 on Tuesday.
Benilde turned a one-point halftime lead into a 23-point margin with a big 32-10 run third quarter led by Will Gozum and Robi Nayve, who each contributed seven points in the period.
Gozum finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks to lead the Blazers. Miggy Corteza added 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks while Nayve added 12 markers in the win.
Benilde remained the only unscathed team in the league with a clean 3-0 slate while dealing Perpetual back-to-back losses to drop them to 1-2.
The Blazers led 33-32 at halftime before uncorking the third period with a 12-0 run, but that hot-shooting outing was just a prelude as the Taft crew ran out to a 23-point advantage, 65-42, to end the frame.
Benilde outscored Perpetual in that stretch, 32 to 10, with the Blazers unloading six three-pointers.
The Altas could come back to 16 off a free throw split from Kim Aurin, 75-59, late in the game but there was nowhere near enough time as Benilde cruised to the victory.
Miggy Corteza's 11-point halftime output helped Benilde create a one point advantage heading to the second half, 33-32. The Blazers, though, weren't able to put the stop on Rey Barcuma, who unleashed 10 markers in the first 20 minutes of action.
But Benilde turned things around in the third en route to its third win in as many games.
The win also served as revenge of sorts for Benilde, who lost to Perpetual in their play-in collision last season to eventually bow out of Final Four contention.
Both teams will be back on Friday with Benilde taking on defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran while Perpetual tackles Mapua University.
The scores:
Benilde 81 - Gozum 16, Corteza 15, Nayve 12, Marcos 7, Flores 7, Pasutan 6, Oczon 6, Sangco 2, Cullar 2, Dimayuga 2, Davis 2, Mara 2, Cajucom 2, Carlos 0, Lepalam 0.
Perpetual 64 - Barcuma 14, Aurin 13, Nitura 12, Flores 8, Abis 6, Omega 4, Martel 3, Egan 2, Razon 2, Cuevas 0, Roque 0, Ferreras 0.
Quarters: 13-17, 33-32, 65-42, 81-64.
—JMB, GMA News
