Blazers oust Tigers, enter Fr. Martin Cup finals

MANILA, Philippines – The College of St. Benilde Blazers are back in the finals.

The Blazers held off repeated rallies to repulse the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 75-70, last Sunday in the semifinals of the 10th Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open basketball tournament at the Trinity University of Asia gymnasium in Quezon City.

Jonathan Grey led three other teammates in scoring double digit outputs as the Blazers arranged a winner-take-all finals showdown with the University of Perpetual Help-A Altas.

The Altas turned to the free throw line to beat the Lyceum Philippines University-A Pirates, 55-52,  and set up a 10:30 a.m. clash with the Blazers, according to commissioner Robert de la Rosa.

Earlier, the La Salle Lady Archers take on the UST Tigresses at 9 a.m. in the women’s finals in this cagefest which is supported by Twin Towers Bakery.

The Blazers, who figured in a finals clash with the San Beda Red Lions last year, meet the Altas on Saturday at the St. Placid gymnasium inside the San Beda College campus in Mendiola, Manila.

“We had a difficult time with them. But, our rebounding did it for us,” said Blazers coach Gabby Velasco.

Grey topscored for 17 points, while Paolo Taha, Mark Romero and Robert Bartolo tallied 13, 12 and 10 points for the Blazers, finally had a chance to move away in the last three minutes.

The Altas, who struggled in the absence of suspended Cameroonian big man Akhuetie Bright, turned to Harold Arboleda’s split charity in the last two seconds.

The Lester del Rosario-coached Altas, who lost Bright after he was thrown out for scuffle during their 72-62 win over the San Beda Red Lions in the quarterfinals, moved away from the Pirates’ reach on Arboleda’s two gift shots at endgame

Arboleda found his mark right after Pirates’ cager Joseph Gabayni’s trey allowed LPU to stay within range, 52-54.

Grey’s drive followed by Bartolo’s perimeter shot with 2:30 left allowed the Blazers a six-point cushion, 66-60, in the ensuing play.

Later, RJ Argamino’s charities and Romero’s layup in the last 38 seconds enabled the Blazers to a gain a 10-point spread, 75-65.