The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Blazers blazed back from an early game upset, outlasting the Mapúa University (MU) Cardinals in the second half, 82-77, to return to their winning form today, Sept. 25, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The opening canto saw both squads struggling to find their rhythm despite the Mapúa University (MU) Cardinals’ early 4-0 run. Zenric Jarque answered for the Taft squad, draining a three-pointer to spark the Blazers’ offense and build momentum. However, Ivan Lazarte kept the Cardinals ahead with a triple, while Marc Igliane chipped in a jumper paired with a free throw to close out the kickoff, 17-21.
The Blazers looked to regain control in the second quarter with SJ Moore leading the charge. However, Edward Ryan III answered early, fueling a 4-0 run for the Cardinals. Mapúa continued to dictate the pace, but Jhommel Ancheta and Ian Torres sparked a comeback for the men in green and white to cut the deficit and push Benilde within striking distance. Despite Benilde’s surge, Lazarte had the final say in the opening half through a converted layup, sending the Cardinals into the break with a 3-point lead, ending at 37-40.
The Cardinals came out firing in the second half, with Lance Nitura and Sebastian Reyes spearheading Mapúa’s offense to widen the gap and force the Blazers to work for their comeback. John Morales, Justine Sanchez, and Ancheta answered for the Taft squad by sinking fiery triples from beyond the arc. The men in green and white continued their offensive surge from deep, reclaiming the lead and closing the third canto, 59-57.
Back-to-back triples from Benilde’s Sanchez and Torres opened the deciding quarter, setting the tone for a tight battle between the squads. The neck-and-neck battle continued until the Cardinals edged out a 9-0 run. However, Torres proved to be a lifesaver for the Blazers, draining four three-pointers to help the Taft squad regain control and widen the lead. The Benilde squad held on until the final buzzer to secure their third win of the season, 82-77.
Torres earned Player of the Game honors with 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Sanchez led the tally with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 blocks.
The Blazers look to keep their winning ways alive against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) Altas on Oct. 1 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City, with a live telecast on One Sports on YouTube, PilipinasLIVE on CignalPlay and NCAA NXT on Cignal TV.
Box Scores:
DLS-CSB (82) - Sanchez 16, Torres 15, Morales 14, Ancheta 9, Moore 9, Jarque 8, Podador 5, Arciaga 3, Daja 3, Go 0, Lorenzo 0, Baliquig 0
MU (77) - Lazarte 22, Cuenco 14, Concepcion 13, Igliane 7, Nitura, L. 6, Diaz, 5, Reyes 4, Ryan 4, Bernabe 2, Nitura, M. 0, Liwanag 0, Razon 0
Quarter Scores: 17-21, 20-19, 22-17, 23-20
