Shawn Umali turned in his best collegiate game so far, steering De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to a 76-66 win against Jose Rizal University in the NCAA Season 101 on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
With Benilde still without Allen Liwag, the graduating big man erupted for a career-high 28 points alongside 12 rebounds, three steals, three blocks, and one assist to steer the Blazers to the quarterfinals and secure a twice-to-beat advantage, with one elimination-round game still remaining.
Benilde, last season’s runner-up to champion Mapua University, improved to 8-4 in Group A to book one of the three outright QF tickets while the Heavy Bombers fell to 6-7.
"Ni-remind lang din kami ni Coach Charles na hindi magiging madali 'yung game na 'to, kumbaga patayan sila maglaro and syempre gano'n din dapat kami," Umali said.
"Wala dapat lalambot-labot sa game lalo na nu'ng second half, talagang pukpok dapat kami."
(We were reminded by Coach Charles that this game wasn't going to be easy. They play like it's life or death and we have to be like that also... We can't be playing soft, especially in the second half, we really played tough.)
JRU set the pace in the first half with the Heavy Bombers holding a steady lead behind the combined firepower of Shawn Argente and Ivan Panapaan, 38-35.
But the Blazers turned to Umali in its third quarter surge as the PBA-bound bruiser scored the first five points to give Benilde its first taste of the lead, 40-38.
JRU, however, demonstrated the form it’s displayed all season, going on a 16-4 run fueled by a Shawn Argente triple and a string of free throws, reclaiming a 58-56 lead over the Heavy Bombers.
Momentum swung to Benilde when Jhommel Ancheta converted a jumper and drilled a huge triple to create a 70-60 advantage with still 4:32 left in the fourth.
Umali punctuated the effort by scoring four of Benilde's last six points, helping the Blazers notch back-to-back wins and their fourth victory in five games.
Tony Ynot did it all on both ends with 13 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and one steal while Ancheta and Raffy Celis chipped in 11 and seven markers for the Blazers.
Argente paced the Heavy Bombers with 14 points on dismal 6-of-16 shooting clip while Panapanaan almost had a double-double with his eight markers and nine boards.
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The scores:
Benilde 76 - Umali 28, Ynot 13, Ancheta 11, Celis 7, Sanchez 6, Morales 4, Oli 3, Gaspay 2, Eusebio 2, Cometa 0, Torres 0, Moore 0, Cajucom 0, Galas 0.
JRU 66 - Argente 14, Panapanaan 8, Laurenaria 8, Castillo 6, Benitez 6, Garupil 6, Salvador 5, Sarmiento 3, Duque 2, Lozano 2, Penaverde 2, Herrera 2, Esguerra 2.
Quarters: 15-21, 35-38, 59-58, 76-66.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
