Robi Nayve and Will Gozum starred for the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde as they picked up a 71-62 victory over San Sebatian College-Recoletos to end a two-game losing skid in the NCAA Season 97 on Friday.
CSB improved to 5-3, bouncing back from two consecutive losses to Jose Rizal University and Mapua University, while San Sebastian dropped to 3-5 with one game left in its schedule.
Gozum posted 18 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, and four blocks while Nayve scored 17 points
Both teams struggled to connect in the first half with San Sebastian dropping 11 of 35 its attempts while Saint Benilde was only successful in nine of its 23 tries in the field.
With JM Calma leading the Stags, San Sebastian only enjoyed a 28-26 cushion at the break in the low-scoring ball game.
The third period basically saw the matchup between the highly-touted Calma and Gozum with both big men taking on the scoring duties for their teams.
Back-to-back baskets by Gozum brought CSB up, 35-34, before Calma knocked down nine of San Sebastian's last 16 points in the penultimate period which ended in a stalemate, 50-50.
In the payoff period, Prince Carlos and AJ Benson stepped up to support Gozum and Nayve as the Blazers outscored the Stags, 21-12.
Calma led San Sebastian with 25 big points and 10 rebounds.
A tough schedule awaits CSB as it tackles San Beda University on Tuesday while San Sebastian takes on Colegio de San Juan de Letran on the same day.
The scores:
CSB 71 - Gozum 18, Nayve 17, Corteza 10, Carlos 9, Benson 9, Cullar 4, Flores 3, Marcos 1, Davis 0, Sangco 0, Lepalam 0, Mosqueda 0, Publico 0.
San Sebastian 62 - Calma 25, Calahat 8, Villapando 6, Cosari 6, Altamirano 5, Dela Cruz 5, Desoyo 3, Abarquez 2, Shanoda 2, Are 0, Felebrico 0, Concha 0.
Quarters: 12-12, 26-28, 50-50, 71-62.
—JMB, GMA News
