NCAA: Benilde halts Mapua's streak, sparks three-way tie in Group A

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde denied Mapua University a seventh straight win, claiming a narrow 71-69 victory in the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Ian Torres poured in 15 points together with four assists and three rebounds while Jhommel Ancheta and Raffy Celis both churned out 14 markers as Blazers created a three-way tie with San Beda and JRU atop Group A.

Benilde, which was coming off back-to-back losses to Emilio Aguinaldo College and Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the crossover, returned to its group and stopped the Cardinals to improve to 7-3 while Mapua saw its six-game winning streak end to go 6-4.

Benilde controlled most of the game but Mapua made sure to stay close. Veteran guard Cy Cuenco knocked down three free throws off a foul from Celis, pulling the Cardinals to within one, 70-69, in the final 16.4 seconds of fourth quarter.

A foul from Yam Concepcion in the inbound play then sent Ancheta to the stripe, where he sank one of two freebies to give Benilde a slim 71-69 advantage with only 9.6 ticks to go.

Cuenco had a chance to play the hero but missed a potential game-winning triple under Celis’ tight defense, allowing Benilde to hold on and snap its skid.

—JMB, GMA News