CSB delivers on biggest game of NCAA 95 thus far

MANILA, Philippines – Yanqui Haruna returned to College of St. Benilde’s lineup to help the Blazers to a 77-72 win over San Sebastian College-Recoletos in Season 95 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Haruna, who missed the first three games of the season and much of the preseason due to a jaw injury, scored 10 points, hauled down seven rebounds and dished off one assist. He also had four fouls with all his contributions coming in 23 minutes of play. Not bad for the graduating player.

While still a close win, this was huge nonetheless because it came against a top tier squad in the Stags and it keeps CSB afloat with a 4-0 record (tied with San Beda with the same record). And perhaps more importantly, it showed the Blazers’ fighting heart as they came from behind to snatch the win and deal the Stags their third straight loss.

How big was his return?

The Fil-American didn’t start but he provided relief in place of the underperforming Edward Dixon (two points, two rebounds and one assist). Haruna’s effort on the glass helped Clement Leutcheu, who at times must feel so alone inside the lane working as rim protector and trying to gobble up those boards.

His return also bolstered CSB as Justin Gutang went down with an injury in the Blazers’ last match against Mapua.

Haruna wasn’t the only one to pick up the team.

Point guard Unique Naboa, who has battled all sorts of consistency and confidence problems, led the team with 15 points, four rebounds and two assists. Nine of his points came from the free throw line (he missed only one attempt) with two coming with eight seconds left to play. Big free throws that meant whatever San Sebastian attempted in the waning seconds would be meaningless.

Rookie Chris Flores also came up big, notching 14 points and five rebounds.

What you have to like about this win is that the team displayed this all-hands-on-deck attitude in winning the battle of the boards, 40-38. CSB had a 4-2 advantage in rebounds in the final two minutes of play.

While the bulk of the offense of the Stags came from RK Ilagan (24 points) and Allyn Bulanadi 917 points), five Blazers were in double digits — Naboa, Flores, James Pasturan (12), Leutcheu and Haruna.

This was easily CSB’s best win of the season – missing their best player (Gutang) and the return of another stud (Haruna), who isn’t fully 100% and had not played any competitive match in close to two months.

This was a big win as it allowed the Blazers to stay in step with San Beda, Letran, and Lyceum of the Philippines University.