The College of St. Benilde Blazers and the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, two teams which got a lift from a two-game forfeiture imposed on the San Sebastian Stags, carved out impressive victories yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
Second stringers Carlo Young and Edward Dixon joined top scorer Justin Gutang in scoring crucial baskets in the last period, pushing the Blazers to a 70-62 win over the Arellano Chiefs in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
A split charity from Mark Mallari and Jun Silvarez’s defense on Hamaadou Laminou worked wonders for the Heavy Bombers as they escaped with a 57-55 triumph over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.
Both teams improved their win-loss records and their place in the team standings after the San Sebastian Stags forfeited two of their won games for fielding an ineligible player, who saw action in a pocket tournament a week before the start of the season.
Young and Gutang struck hard in the last 4:10, with their baskets keeping the Blazers ahead by seven, 65-57, and assuring them of their fifth triumph in eight games.
Dixon scored on a penetration in the last two minutes, his reply to Chiefs cager Kraniel Viloria’s triple allowing the Blazers to grab a 68-62 cushion.
Gutang went on lead with 15 points for the Blazers, who climbed to fifth position.
“The boys played well. They held the Chiefs to less than 30 percent on field goals, and that’s without our import Clement Lentchieu,” said Chief coach TY Tang.
Tang added the team adjusted well with Lentchieu serving a one-game suspension following a 2 technical fouls he got in their game with the Generals last week.
Mendoza knocked in 18 points for the Heavy Bombers, who improved to 2-6.
In the junior division, the defending champion La Salle Greenhills Greenies, with Joel Cagulangan and Joshua David banging in a game-high 14 points, got two big plays from RC Calimag, in the end, to carry them to a 74-66 win over the Arellano Braves.
The Greenies finished the first round with an 8-1 card, a game ahead of the Mapua Red Robins.
Little known Ronald Bucoy came up with three big plays in the last 22 seconds to lift the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers to a 74-69 beating of the EAC-ICA Brigadiers.
John Amores eked out 21 points to lead JRU to their sixth win in nine matches.
Earlier, management committee chairman Frank Gusi said in a one-page statement that the Stags were sanction after they learned Stags cager RK Ilagan saw action in tournament that is classified as “ligang labas.”
Ilagan was also meted by the Mancom with a three-game suspension.
This will go with a six-game suspension that the school imposed on Ilagan for the rest of the first round.
