The College of St. Benilde Blazers played as a complete team for the first time in the 101st National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament and the result was telling.
Allen Liwag, back from a bout with dengue fever, knocked in 19 points and seven rebounds for the Blazers in their 82-64 crushing of the San Sebastian Stags on Wednesday at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Coach Charles Tiu felt that team played more energy time around as they posted their fourth win in six games.
“I’m happy that we are starting to get healthy. Allen just had one day of practice. He said he wanted to play. Papawis lang,” said Tiu.
In the past five matches, Liwag, along with Gab Cometa, Joshua Cajucom, Ernest Daja and Jericho Jalalon, had been missing games, and were still sick with the flu, while Winston Ynot had an ankle sprain.
Playing with energy, the Blazers took control in the second quarter, with Liwag leading a 13-point assault that saw CSB moving away from a 19-14 first lead, and into a 36-21 spread in the last 3:05.
The victory allowed the Blazers to recover from their 67-72 loss to the Arellano Chiefs.
Jhuniel de la Rama shot 20 points for the Stags, who fell behind at 1-6.
In the junior action, Camilo Jugo’s jumper with 16 seconds left allowed the La Salle Greenhills Greenies to ice it with the San Sebastian Staglets, 86-84.
Josef Calo-oy eked out 21 points for the Greenies, who moved up to second place in Group B at 4-2.
Mark Esperanza tallied 29 points for the Staglets, and he earlier tied the match with his jumper, 84-all.
