With a loss against the San Sebastian Stags to start their NCAA Season 94 men’s basketball campaign, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Blazers (DLS-CSB) Blazers entered today’s game with a vengeance, dominating the Mapua University Cardinals (MU) Cardinals, 90-79, earlier today, July 20, at the FilOil Flying V Centre, San Juan.

It was a slow start for the boys in green and white as their eagerness went overboard causing their downfall in the opening quarter of the game. Offensive mishaps and miscommunication led to a game-high 29 turnovers for the Taft squad as the game entered the second quarter with a 15-15 deadlock. Benildeans Clement Leutcheu and Ray Carlos provided the offensive firepower in the opening quarter with six and five points respectively.

       

Meanwhile, the Blazers started to pull away in the second quarter as they made three straight three-pointers out of their seven in the quarter and 12 for the game. Justin Gutang spearheaded the attack, providing three long-range bombs together with James Pasturan, Ray Carlos, and Rob Nayve pitching in one three-pointer each to extend the lead to 10 heading into the half, 46-36.

At the start of the half, the Taft squad was on a roll as Gutang and Edward Dixon scored 17 and 13 points respectively. Despite the Blazers’ best effort to further extend the lead, the Cardinals outscored Benilde 15-23 in the quarter, trimming the lead down to just two at the end of the third, 61-59.

In the fourth quarter, the Blazers secured their dominance with Yankie Haruna scoring 19 points in just 17 minutes of play. The boys in green and white closed the game strong with an 11-point advantage over the Cardinals, 90-79.

With a win-loss record of 1-1, the Blazers will face the San Beda University on July 24 at the FilOil Flying V Centre, San Juan.

Quarter scores:
(15-15, 46-36, 61-59, 90-79)

Photos by Rigel Estabaya