NCAA: Justine Sanchez drops career-high 27 as Benilde escapes Perpetual in OT

Justine Sanchez dropped a career-high 27 points as De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde escaped the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 81-79, in overtime in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Thursday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Sanchez waxed hot from beyond the arc, drilling seven of his eight 3-point attempts while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out two assists as the Group A Blazers improved to 4-1.

The ALTAs led 62-58 heading into the final frame and even built their biggest lead early in the fourth quarter after back-to-back baskets from Aries Borja and Jim Corpuz widened the Las Piñas-based squad’s advantage.

Jhomel Ancheta and Corpuz then answered each other with triples before back-to-back 3-pointers from Ancheta and Sanchez trimmed Benilde’s deficit to 69-67 with 5:23 remaining.

Angelo Gelsano then hit another jumper for the ALTAs, but Ancheta answered with another 3-pointer to keep the Blazers within striking distance.

Mark Gojo Cruz split his free throws after being fouled by Sanchez with 3:12 remaining before Mo Morales tied the game at 72 with less than two minutes left.

LA Casinillo broke the tie and put Perpetual ahead before Ancheta was fouled by Rey Maglupay while attempting a 3-pointer. Ancheta, who had a chance to give Benilde the lead, missed one of his three free throws to tie the game at 74, while Corpuz missed his 3-point attempt at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

In the extra period, the ALTAs held a 77-75 lead early, but free throws from Sanchez and Ancheta put the Blazers ahead. Gojo Cruz gave the lead back to Perpetual with 3:02 remaining, but Sanchez’s triple put the Taft-based squad back in front with 2:12 left.

From there, the Blazers held off the ALTAs, as Corpuz and Casinillo missed their attempts in the final stretch.

Aside from Sanchez, Ancheta had 17 points, eight assists, and a steal for Benilde, while Zenric Jarque and SJ Moore added nine points each.

Gojo Cruz led the ALTAs with 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block, while Casinillo and Kenji Duremdes had 12 and 11 points, respectively, as Group B's Perpetual dropped to 2-3.

—JKC, GMA News