NCAA 87: Pate leads Blazers past Generals

Michael Pate made sure College of Saint Benilde won't finish the 87th NCAA men's basketball tournament at the bottom of the standings. The Blazers' rookie forward tallied 18 points, three rebounds and three assists to lead CSB to an 82-73 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals Friday at The Arena in San Juan City. The game was close for only one quarter with the Richard Del Rosario-coached squad posting a 22-19 advantage. Pate then teamed up with veteran Ralph Deles in the second period to extend the lead to 13, 43-30, at the turn. CSB never looked back after that to notch their sixth win in 11 games and tie guest team Lyceum from sixth to seventh spots behind idle Mapua’s 7-11 slate. Jan Jamon paced the Generals, who dropped to 4-13, with 20 markers. Defending juniors champion San Beda Red Cubs cruised to their 17th straight win after an 88-63 thrashing of the Letran Squires. Francis Munsayac and Antonio Bonsubre tallied 16 and 14 points each for the Red Cubs, who can secure the first finals berth with a win over San Sebastian on Monday. Despite the loss, the Squires remained the No. 2 team with a 13-4 win-loss mark. La Salle-Greenhills (12-5) fortified its hold of the third spot after scoring an 84-67 win over EAC, which clinched the last Final Four berth with an 11-6 card. — JVP, GMA News