Fighting for pride; Blazers silence Bombers

MANILA, Philippines — Out-of-it-all St. Benilde turned to Yankie Haruna and Unique Naboa as it whipped up a third-quarter storm and routed Jose Rizal University, 84-68, yesterday to end a three-game slide and salvage some measure of pride.

Haruna and Naboa combined for 16 points in the third canto as the Blazers turned a slim 35-32 lead into a huge 67-46 spread, then breezed to their ninth win against eight defeats.

Haruna wound up with 18 points on top of seven rebounds while Naboa scored eight points all in CSB’s decisive third-quarter assault.

The Blazers hope to end their season on a winning note as they tackle the Letran Knights next week.

“I keep telling my team that whatever happens this season, we have to end our campaign with a victory and we have a chance to do that,” said CSB coach TY Tang.

The Bombers successfully kept the game close in the first half trailing by just a point after the opening period, 15-16, and by three, 32-35, at the break.

But the duo of Haruna and Naboa dismantled the Bombers in the third, and JRU ended up with the worst record in the season at 3-15.

In the other non-bearing game, Mapua U downed Arellano U, 91-78, to close its campaign with a 6-12 mark.

The Chiefs fell to 5-12.

The scores:

First Game

St. Benilde 84 – Haruna 18, Leutcheu 17, Young 13, Gutang 12, Naboa 8, Dixon 7, Carlos 6, Velasco 2, Nayve 1, Belgica 0, Pagulayan 0.

JRU 68 – Dela Virgen 25, Mendoza 12, Aguilar 12, Estrella 6, Padua 5, Esguerra 4, Bordon 2, Ramos 2, Silvarez 0, Mallari 0, Santos 0, Miranda 0, David 0.

Quarterscores: 16-15; 35-32; 67-46; 84-68

Second Game

Mapua 91 – Pelayo 21, Lugo 21, Victoria 15, Serrano 12, Gamboa 10, Aguirre 4, Bunag 3, Biteng 2, Bonifacio 2, Jabel 1, Bautista 0, Carandang 0, Garcia 0, Selanga 0, Nieles 0

AU 78 – Alban 19, Canete 15, dela Torre 13, Alcoriza 10, Concepcion 6, dela Cruz 5, Sera Josef 5, Segura 4, Bayla 1

Quarterscores: 23-19; 40-37; 67-57; 91-78