Pirates hold off Generals; Blazers score

Games today

12 noon – Arellano U vs Perpetual Help (Jrs)

2:30 p.m. – Arellano U vs Perpetual Help (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines -Wilson Baltazar fired nine of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter as Lyceum came from behind to beat Emilio Aguinaldo College, 73-67, and move to solo fourth in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Dexter Zamora shot 15 pints while bull-strong Joseph Gabayni turned in a double-double job of 14 markers and 11 rebounds plus three blocks for the Pirates, who trailed by six at the start of the fourth but outscored the Generals in the stretch to clinch the win.

It was Lyceum’s fourth victory against two defeats as the Pirates inched closer to San Beda (5-0), Arellano U (4-1) and Perpetual Help (3-1) while dropping San Sebastian (3-2) to fifth.

The Generals fell to 1-4 in a tie with the Letran Knights at No. 8.

Earlier, St. Benilde picked up its second straight win after dropping its first three games, fending off Mapua’s furious fightback to hack out a 79-72 victory.

The Blazers, notorious for their endgame collapses, blew an 18-point lead in the third period and trailed by one with three minutes left in the contest. But the Taft-based squad regrouped and struck back with a closing 11-5 run to clinch the win and keep the Cardinals winless in six outings.

St. Benilde skipper Mark Romero scored five points down the stretch to finish with 26 markers, a new career-high after hitting 25 points in an 89-90 overtime defeat to Perpetual Help last year.

“Our experience last year taught us to never give up. We also want to show people that we have put the ‘heartbreak kids’ tag behind us,” said the 23-year-old Romero.

Jonathan Grey, a 22-year-old Export Management student, backed up Romero with a solid 17-point, six-rebound, five-assist, three-steal and one block performance with no turnovers.

St. Benilde actually notched its second straight win despite the absence of Fil-American Jose Saavedra, who missed the game with a bum stomach.

Like in their previous starts, the Blazers took control and built a 50-32 bulge early in the third period. And like in their past games, they wavered, enabling the Cardinals to mount a rally.

Twice did Mapua snatch a one-point lead in the final quarter, the last on Carlos Isit’s free throws that made it, 68-67, with three minutes and seven seconds remaining in the contest.

But Paolo Taha, who erupted for 24 points in a shock 85-71 win over last year’s losing finalist Letran last Monday, Grey and Romero combined for six unanswered points while the rest toughened up on defense to frustrate the Cardinals.

“The key in this game is that the players didn’t give up, they showed poise under pressure,” said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco.

Leo Gabo fired 16 points for the hard-luck Mapua.

The scores:

First Game

St. Benilde 79 – Romero 26, Grey 17, Sinco 8, Taha 8, Bartolo 8, Argamino 5, Jonson 3, Mercado 3, Ongteco 1, Nayve 0, Deles 0, Altamirano 0. 

Mapua 72 – Gabo 16, Isit 14, Saitanan 14, Eriobu 13, Estrella 8, Biteng 2, Layug 2, Cantos 2, Villasenor 1, Canaynay 0. 

Quarterscores: 23-17, 39-31, 61-50, 79-72

Second Game

Lyceum 73 – Baltazar 20, Zamora 15, Gabayni 14, Mbida 8, Bulawan 8, Maconocido 4, Malabanan 2, Taladua 2, Pamulaklakin 0, Soliman 0, Lesmoras 0, Elmejrab 0. 

Emilio Aguinaldo 67 – Happi 18, Tayongtong 13, Arquero 10, Aguilar 7, King 7, Serrano 6, Onwubere 5, Jamon 3, Santos 0, Mejos 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 11-19, 35-35, 49-55, 73-67