BENILDE SURGES TO SOLE LEAD WITH DOMINANT WIN OVER EAC
College of St. Benilde Blazers showcased its prowess as they stormed past Emilio Aguinaldo College with a resounding 77-55 victory on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, securing its position at the top of the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
Tony Ynot and Allen Liwag were the stars of the show, driving the Blazers to their third straight win of the season. Ynot, who is grappling with the recent loss of his grandfather, delivered a stellar performance, scoring 16 points, including three pivotal three-pointers. Liwag, despite a quieter offensive outing with just seven points, dominated defensively, hauling in a game-high 15 rebounds and swatting two shots.
“Tony Ynot had to go home because his lolo had passed. Allen struggled offensively but we all know he’s helping us even if he’s not scoring,” remarked CSB head coach Charles Tiu.
From the get-go, the Blazers exerted their dominance, leveraging their physicality and size to assert control. They quickly established a commanding lead, stretching it to as much as 23 points and stifling any offensive rhythm from EAC. EAC managed to mount a late rally, trimming the deficit to 11 points by the end of the third quarter. However, the Blazers maintained their composure and thwarted any comeback attempts.
In the final period, Tiu turned to rookie Anton Eusebio, who made an immediate impact. Eusebio, a former UP Fighting Maroon, nailed back-to-back three-pointers to stretch the lead to 18 points, effectively putting the game out of reach. His nine points in the fourth quarter surpassed the entire EAC team's scoring for that period.
Liwag's contributions extended beyond his scoring struggles, as he also tallied three assists, two blocks, and one steal. Justin Sanchez added 14 points and six rebounds, while Jhomel Ancheta provided 10 points, further solidifying the Blazers' well-rounded performance.
With this victory, CSB remains unbeaten with a 3-0 record. The Blazers will look to continue their winning streak as they prepare to face the University of Perpetual Help Systems DALTA on Wednesday at 12:00 noon, also at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
