FIGHTING adversities from within, College of St. Benilde yesterday showed it wanted it more against a game but outclassed Lyceum quintet.
Banking on a late fourth quarter run, the Blazers whipped the Pirates 79-68 to give new coach Charles Tiu his first win in the 97th NCAA basketball tournament behind closed doors at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
Guard Robi Nayve scattered a game-high 17 points on four three-pointers for CSB, while prized transferee Will Gozum backed him up with 15 markers and eight rebounds.
JC Cullar and AJ Benson also combined for 22 points as the Blazers redeemed themselves from a 63-67 loss to defending champion Letran last Saturday.
Lyceum failed to atone for its 72-81 defeat to San Beda University also last Saturday.
In the other game, Perpetual Help blasted Jose Rizal University 77-56.
Kim Aurin led the Altas’ charge with 20 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Jef Egan had 14 and five.
Jielo Razon also got 13 points, five rebounds, and six assists for Perpetual, which launched its campaign on a fast start.
Already holed up in a bubble, Tiu said two of his wards still played despite dealing with internal matters.
The grandmother of CSB big man Ladis Lepalam passed away yesterday, while Mark Sangco’s mother figured in an accident.
“Kami iyong last na mag-start (bubble training) so Feb. 10 pa kami pumasok and Feb. 15 pa nag-start. To be honest, it’s very hard. I have a player whose grandmother just passed away today and then hindi siya makaalis so how can we grief for our loved ones?” Tiu posed.
“I have a player, iyong mommy naman niya naaksidente rin. It’s stuff like those and you can’t be with your families, so I feel for the players,” he added.
After a seesaw first half where they took a 37-36 buffer, the Blazers enjoyed a 54-50 cushion going into the fourth quarter.
CSB went on a telling 7-0 blitz that turned a 72-65 lead to a 79-65 game capped by a Nayve trey, only 59 seconds left.
Enoch Valdez paced the Pirates with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Shawn Umali and Yancy Remulla added 11 and 10, respectively.
“Hindi ko rin ine-expect iyong naging resulta ng game. Siguro iyong excitement lang ng mga bata kasi for two years, hindi nakapaglaro ng basketball so ito iyong chance nila kaya ang ganda ng nangyari sa amin,” new Altas strategist Myk Saguiguit said.
“Players’ effort siya. Ang naging sikreto nito ay iyong relasyon nila, relasyon ng players, relasyon ng coaches.”
John Delos Santos scored 17 points for the Heavy Bombers, while Jason Celis had 11.
