Games on Friday(Filoil EcoOil Arena)12 p.m. – AU vs LPU2:30 p.m. – Letran vs Mapua
ONE BY ONE, College of St. Benilde (CSB) is dismantling everything and everyone in its path.
Showing none to little mercy, the CSB Blazers slaughtered the University of Perpetual Help (UPH) Altas, 78-51, Wednesday to remain unscathed and immovable at No. 1 in NCAA Season 100 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
It was another clinical display of bench depth, relentless running game and nearly impenetrable defense for the Las Piñas-based school, which included in its long line of victims contenders San Beda University, the defending champion, Lyceum of the Philippines University and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
The beating was so terrifying that the CSB Blazers finished off the Altas as early as the first half when the former lead, 50-29.
It was worse in the third canto when CSB made it a 69-40 lead, its biggest of the game, with a whole quarter to go.
It was made more impressive when the Blazers’ most lethal weapon, big man Allen Liwag, fresh from being adjudged the season’s player of the week by the collegiate press corps, was confused after ending up with his season worst four points and nine rebounds.
It didn’t affect CSB a bit as the troika of Justin Sanchez, Tony Ynot and Gab Cometa presided over the carnage by unloading 13, 12 and 10 points, respectively.
“I want the type of team where even if you struggle, you can contribute in other ways,” said cerebral CSB coach Charles Tiu.
The Altas stumbled to their second straight defeat after starting the season with two wins in a row. — Joey Villar
The scores:
First Game
CSB 78 – Sanchez 13, Ynot 12, Cometa 10, Ancheta 9, Torres 8, Eusebio 8, Serrano 7, Liwag 4, Morales 3, Sangco 2, Ondoa 2, Jarque 0, Turco 0, Oli 0, Carillo 0
UPHSD 51 – Gojo Cruz 11, Orgo 10, Boral 9, Abis 4, Pizarro 4, J. Manuel 4, Pagaran 4, Nuñez 3, Montemayor 2, Gelsano 0, Cauguiran 0, Sevilla 0, Javier 0, Movida 0, B. Manuel 9
Quarter scores: 18-10; 50-29; 69-40; 78-51