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By Frank C. Calapre Correspondent
COLLEGE OF ST. BENILDE (CSB) held
University of Perpetual Help Dalta System (UPHDS) scoreless in the
final 2:23 to post a 61-54 win Wednesday in the 84th National
Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Cuneta
Astrodome.
Jacob Manlapaz scored 14 points
while Archimedes David and Garry Sevilla chipped in 13 and 11
points, respectively for the 2003 champion Blazers, who came up with
a good defensive job in the crucial stretch to post their second
straight win.
“I’m very happy with our
position right now. It was really fortunate the boys did not give up
and kept on fighting. At least the spirit is there,” said CSB
coach Gee Abanilla, who took over the post of Caloy Garcia four
months ago.
Abanilla said the team’s
performance is beyond expectation considering that everything that
he had in mind to improve the team, which finished seventh last
year, is still not in place.
“Our recruitment system and all
other plans that I have for the team have not yet been put together
yet because I just started with this team four months ago,” added
Abanilla.
The game saw 13 lead changes and
11 deadlocks, the last at 52-all with only 6:10 remaining.
Two-year veteran Anjelo Monte-castro
scored on a jumper to give St. Benilde a two-point lead and after a
turnover by the Altas in the next play, 6’3” David sank a triple
as the Blazers posted their biggest lead at 57-52, only 2:45 left.
“I never expected to take an
early 2-0 lead. But at least whatever they may say, we are in this
position already right now. I just hope we can sustain the
momentum,” stressed Abanilla.
St. Benilde, which downed 2004
champion Philippine Christian University 69-65 on June 28 at the
Araneta Coliseum, handed UPHDS its first loss in two outings.
Raffy Inion led the Altas 18
points followed by Franz Dysam with 10 points and Michael Kong with
7 points.
In the juniors division, the Baby
Blazers defeated the UPHSD Altalettes, 95-76, while the defending
champion San Sebastian Staglets downed the comebacking Mapua Red
Robins 119-25 for their second straight win.
Avin Bringas sizzled with 39
points while Almond Vosotros contributed 17 points for the Staglets.
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