COLLEGE of St. Benilde yesterday proved a game is not won in the first half.
Leaning on a fiery second half assault, the Blazers clobbered Perpetual Help 81-64 for their third win in as many matches in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Big man Will Gozum shone for CSB with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, to go with two assists and two blocks, while Miggy Corteza added 15 markers and seven boards.
Robi Nayve knocked down a pair of three-pointers and finished with 12 points and two caroms for the Blazers, who scored a fitting follow-up to their 100-94 triumph over San Sebastian College five days ago and remained unscathed with a 3-0 mark.
The Altas, coming off a 59-61 loss to Arellano University last Friday, fell to 1-2.
In the other game, Lyceum turned back Emilio Aguinaldo College 74-67 for its third straight win in four games.
Mclaude Guadana led the Pirates with 12 points, three rebounds, and two feeds, while Alvin Penafiel had 12 markers.
Renzo Navarro also got 10 and two as Lyceum came up with an encore to its 89-81 stunner over San Beda University last Wednesday and improved to 3-1 in a tie with the Chiefs for second.
The Generals failed to recover from a 74-97 setback to Jose Rizal University last Saturday and dropped to 0-4.
“We felt in the first half, we just weren’t making shots,” CSB coach Charles Tiu said.
“So, we made adjustments at the half and we’re thankful that our guys made shots,” he added.
After taking a 33-32 cushion at the half, the Blazers outgunned Perpetual 32-10 in the third quarter to grab a 65-42 spread heading into the payoff period.
CSB was hardly threatened from there.
Joey Barcuma paced the Altas with 14 points, while Kim Aurin and Marcus Nitura contributed 13 and 12, respectively.
“I want our team to be unpredictable, iyong hindi mo alam sino ang puputok,” Pirates strategist Gilbert Malabanan said.
“That’s the good thing for us, from our first group to the third group, always ready sila.”
Allen Liwag carried the fight for EAC with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Nat Cosejo and JC Luciano combined for 26.
