Will Gozum displayed pure brilliance as he dropped a new career-high of 34 points to steer De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde past thier tormentor last season, Jose Rizal University, 92-79, in NCAA Season 98 on Wednesday.
Gozum scored 23 points in a dominant first half before finishing with his total. He shot 11-for-17 (76.5%) from the field in the game and tallied eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Miggy Corteza added 13 points while Migs Oczon posted 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists for Benilde.
The win allowed the Blazers to get back at the Heavy Bombers, whose lone win last season came at its expense, and improve to 9-2. JRU, on the other hand, snapped its five-game win streak to drop to 5-3 following more than two weeks of inactivity.
Gozum wasted no time asserting his dominance, pouring in 23 points in the first half to send Benilde to a slim 45-43 lead.
He scored 14 of those in the second quarter where he shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, 2-for-2 from three, and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.
JRU, meanwhile, leaned on its team captain Ry Dela Rosa, who churned out 14 markers over the first two periods, highlighted by four triples.
In the tight first two quarters of action, neither team led by more than six points as both came out strong and with intensity.
Gozum refused to step on the brakes after halftime, knocking down seven more points in the third as the Blazers slowly pulled away.
Benilde closed out the frame enjoying a 67-58 lead after Gozum got help from the likes of Oczon, Corteza, Jimboy Pasturan, and Carlos Sumabat.
The Heavy Bombers, who were playing their first game back since October 8, staged a fightback in the fourth, trimming their deficit to just seven, 86-79, with Dela Rosa igniting their offense.
But back-to-back baskets from Pasturan and Corteza again saw Benilde leading by 11, 90-79, with 1:19 left.
De La Rosa led JRU with 26 points, including 6-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc while John Amores added 19 markers.
The scores:
Benilde 92 - Gozum 34, Corteza 13, Oczon 12, Pasturan 10, Sumabat 9, Sangco 4, Carlos 4, Cullar 2, Nayve 2, Mara 2, Dimayuga 0, Flores 0.
JRU 79 - Dela Rosa 26, Amores 19, Guiab 12, Medina 7, Miranda 6, Sy 4, Gonzales 3, Dionisio 2, Framaranco 0, Joson 0, Tan 0, De Jesus 0.
Quarters: 20-19, 45-43, 67-58, 92-79.
—JMB, GMA News
