The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Blazers open their NCAA Season 101 campaign with a bitter loss against the San Beda University (SBU) Red Lions, 85-96, Oct. 1, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

As soon as the buzzer sounded, the Red Lions made it known that they were out for vengeance in what was a rematch of the Season 100 semifinals starting strong with Bryan Sajonia and Janti Miller leading the charge. However, the Taft squad matched San Beda’s intensity as Justine Sanchez and Jhomel Ancheta propelled the Blazers to close the first canto with a two-possession lead, 30-26.

Just when SJ Moore drained a three to end the Blazers’ scoring drought, the Red Lions staged a 2-8 run to even the score, 39-39. Nevertheless, the men in green and white managed to remain within striking distance at the half, 45-48. 

A back-and-forth battle commenced until Yukien Andrada, RC Calimag, and Nygel Gonzales led the red and white’s 1-11 run to silence Benilde in the third period, 61-71. Just when victory seemed out of reach, the Taft squad came alive late in the fourth quarter as the Blazers staged a 8-0 run with Season 100 MVP Allen Liwag at the helm to cut the lead to six. 

Ultimately, the Red Lions proved to be too much, overwhelming the men in green and white to open their redemption season at the expense of Benilde, 85-96.

The Blazers look to bounce back as they face off against the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals on Oct. 4 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre, with a live telecast on Heart of Asia and the NCAA Philippines Facebook and YouTube pages.

Box Scores:
DLS-CSB (85): Sanchez 24, Torres 13, Liwag 12, Ancheta 8, Celis 6, Oli 6, Cometa 4, Cajucom 4, Morales 3, Moore 3, Gaspay 2

SBU (96): Sajonia 16, Miller 16, Reyes 13, Andrada 11, Etulle 9, Gonzales 8, Calimag 7, Celzo 6, Bonzalida 4, Culdora 4, Lina 2