BIG man Will Gozum provided both speed and muscle under the boards as the Malayan High School of Science Red Robins overpowered the Emilio Aguinaldo College-ICA Brigadiers, 112-75, yesterday in the last elimination round game of the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
The 6’6” Gozum, a transferee from the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS), tallied 20 points and hauled down 11 rebounds for the Red Robins, who finished their 18-game assignment with 15 wins and three losses.
This formally earned the Red Robins the no. 2 seed in the Final Four semifinals.
They are behind the top squad, the defending champion San Beda Red Cubs, who took the no. 1 with their 17-1 win-loss slate.
The 17-year-old Gozum struck with 10 points in the first period for the Red Robins, who moved ahead following 9-1 salvo off Brian Lacap’s three-point play and drive in the last 6:21.
“We could not afford to relax going to the semis. We had to play well so that the players would have confidence going to the playoffs,” said Red Robins coach Randy Alcantara.
The Arellano University Braves and the La Salle Greenhills Junior Blazers share third and fourth position with similar 13-5 win-loss records.
They will meet on Tuesday to determine which among the Red Cubs and the Red Robins will be their semis opponent.