MANILA – College of St. Benilde Blazers kept its NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball title hopes alive with a 76-71 Game 2 win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
From a 71-all deadlock following a layup by Knights’ King Caralipio, Will Gozum surged the Blazers ahead at 73-71 with an inside conversion with 55.4 seconds remaining in the contest.
After a missed basket by the Knights, the Blazers added up to their advantage with a turnaround jumper by Migs Oczon with 20 seconds left before Mark Sangco wrapped up CSB’s win with a free throw.
Negrense Miggy Corteza led the way for the Blazers with 21 points, with 14 coming in the third quarter, while Season MVP winner Gozum also had 21 markers to go with 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Oczon returned from sprained ankle injury to finish with 15 points, including four outside baskets, while Rob Nayve added 10 markers for the Blazers, which tied the best-of-three finale at 1-1.
The Knights were scorching to start the game as they jumped to a double-digit lead, with the largest at 12 points, before the Blazers went on a furious third quarter start to take a 49-48 advantage.
From there, it was a seesaw battle for both teams with no one leading by as much as five markers before the Blazers snagged a 69-65 lead that was tied by the Knights at 71-all late in the fourth quarter.
“We just told them to be mentally tough,” said Blazers head coach Charles Tiu. “We know that Letran is a really good team but I told them that mentally, we have to believe that we can beat them.”
Brent Paraiso led the Knights with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, Game 1 hero Louie Sangalang had double-double 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Kurt Reyson had 11 points and four boards.
The two-time defending champions Knights, however, will be shorthanded heading into Game 3 on Sunday with veteran Fran Yu expected to be suspended following a disqualifying foul in Game 2.
BOX SCORE:
CSB 76 – Gozum 21, Corteza 21, Oczon 15, Nayve 10, Pasturan 3, Sangco 3, Carlos 3, Cullar 0, Marcos 0, Davis 0, Lepalam 0, Flores 0, Lim 0.
LETRAN 71 – Paraiso 16, Sangalang 11, Reyson 11, Caralipio 9, Yu 6, Santos 6, Javillonar 5, Olivario 4, Ariar 3, Guarino 0, Go 0.
Quarterscores: 20-23, 34-45, 64-59, 76-71./PN
