The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Blazers eliminated the defending champions San Beda University (SBU) Red Lions, 79-63, giving the Taft squad a ticket to the NCAA Season 100 Finals today, Nov. 23, at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
A strong early start was immediately displayed by the Blazers, giving a quick 6-2 start in the ballgame. The team's first stringers showed a strong defensive quarter and efficient offensive rotations, enabling them to share the scoring distribution, 17-8. Jhomel Ancheta and Allen Liwag took advantage of the paint as they boosted their early advantage in the first quarter, 25-14.
The second quarter saw a slowed tempo for the Blazers as the Red Lions executed their aggressive defensive pressure. Despite the pesky defense, the Taft squad maintained their composure and took advantage of the sticky defense by drawing fouls and trips in the free-throw line. A roll play by Paul Turco and a trey from Mark Sangco quickly changed the Blazers’ tempo, 35-21. The men in green and white continued to take on the paint and ended the quarter with a couple of threes from Matthew Oli and Ancheta, 47-26.
Both teams became aggressive defensively right after the halftime, proven by the low-scoring output in the third quarter. The duo of Liwag and Tony Ynot easily converted SBU’s turnovers into fastbreak opportunities, 57-33. Despite the very slowed scoring, Ynot and Anton Eusebio still dropped shots from the arc to maintain the comfortable lead, 70-42.
The Red Lions slowly worked their way in the final quarter, as they have been accumulating transition play opportunities from the turnovers of the Blazers. A solid 3-guard frontcourt stood up for the Taft squad, as Ancheta, Ynot, and Gab Cometa led the team’s offensive rotation. Liwag and Roger Ondoa showed superiority underneath the basket as they tallied strong baskets from the shaded area, 79-52. The Mendiola squad attempted to make a clutch run through the consecutive baskets of Aaron Royo and Penny Estacio, 79-59. But the Benilde Blazers made sure to finish strong with a big lead as they eliminated the defending champions and took home a ticket to the finals, 79-63.
Liwag was hailed as the best player of the game with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and a block.
Catch the Blazers as they face the Mapua University (MU) Cardinals next for Game 1 of the NCAA Finals on Dec. 1 at the Araneta Coliseum with a live telecast on Heart of Asia and the NCAA Philippines Facebook and YouTube pages.
Box Scores:
DLS-CSB (79): Liwag 20, Ynot 17, Ancheta 11, Sanchez 9, Cometa 5, Turco 4, Sangco 3, Eusebio 3, Oli 3, Torres 2, Ondoa 2
SBU (63): Royo 14, Estacio 10, Andrada 7, Calimag 6, Sajonia 6, Bonzalida 5, Payosing 4, Lina 4, Gonzales 2, Songcuya 2
