Will Gozum and Miggy Corteza took turns in steering De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to an 85-72 drubbing of Mapua University as they bounced back in the NCAA Season 98 on Wednesday.
Gozum scored a game-high 25 points alongside eight rebounds, four assists, and a block while Corteza scored 18 of his 22 points in an explosive second half performance to lead the Blazers. Corteza also had eight rebounds.
Benilde gunner Migs Oczon, who was held scoreless over the first three periods, contributed six points in the fourth quarter, which Benilde dominated, 24-8.
After a stellar outing in the first from Gozum, Corteza led their second half rally, powering a 14-7 rampage to close the third down staring at just a three-point deficit, 64-61.
Corteza again dropped eight points early to open the fourth as the Blazers went on a blistering 19-1 run to go up by 15, 80-65, with less than three minutes left to play.
The win allowed Benilde to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss last Sunday to Emilio Aguinaldo College and improve to 8-2.
Mapua, meanwhile, saw its two-game win streak snapped to slide to 2-9.
It was all about big men in the first half with former teammates in Mapua slotman Warren Bonifacio and Benilde bruiser Gozum pouring in 15 points apiece as the Cardinals lead the Blazers at the turn, 42-40.
Oczon struggled to connect in the first two quarters, going scoreless on just two attempts from the field.
Mapua unleashed a strong third quarter, where the Intramuros crew led by 10, 57-47, before Corteza fueled Benilde’s run to trim that deficit to just three, 61-64.
Bonifacio finished with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals for the Cardinals.
The scores:
Benilde 85 - Gozum 25, Corteza 22, Cullar 8, Nayve 5, Oczon 6, Sangco 5, Carlos 5, Pasutran 2, Lepalam 2, Marcos 2, Flores 2, Davis 0.
Mapua 72 - Bonifacio 21, Pido 13, Agustin 12, Hernandez 10, Nocum 6, Cuenco 5, Soriano 3, Salenga 2, Mercado 0, Lacap 0, Parinas 0, Garcia 0.
Quarters: 24-16, 40-42, 61-64, 85-72.
—JMB, GMA News
