De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde survived a furious fightback from fellow Final Four squad Lyceum of the Philippines University, 100-88, in NCAA Season 98 on Friday.
The win fortified Benilde’s bid to finish in the top two as it improved to 12-4 while Lyceum dropped to 12-6 with a few days left before the playoffs.
Will Gozum starred with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists to lead the Blazers while Migs Oczon scored 18 points of his own.
MIggy Corteza also chipped in at just the right time, scoring 11 of his 13 points in the second half.
Benilde led by 10 early, but Lyceum was able to tie things up at 38 before the Blazers closed the half on another run to enjoy a 49-40 cushion.
A big third quarter spelled the difference for the Blazers.
The Taft crew outscored Lyceum, 30 to 18, with back-to-back triples from Robi Nayve and Corteza sending Benilde to a comfortable 24-point advantage, 77-53.
They headed to the fourth ahead, 79-58, as Lyceum continued to struggle with only six field goals made in that stretch.
But Lyceum staged a rally in the fourth, pulling to within seven, 95-88, after JM Bravo sank an important three-pointer with the time dwindling down as well as an Enoch Valdez putback basket.
But a couple of missed shots from Shawn Umali and Mclaude Guadaña proved costly for Lyceum as Benilde completed the win off two freebies from Oczon.
Valdez led the Pirates with 18 points.
The scores:
Benilde 100 - Gozum 18, Oczon 18, Corteza 13, Cullar 11, Lepalam 10, Nayve 8, Sangco 7, Marcos 7, Carlos 5, Davis 2, Flores 1, Pasturan 0, Sumabat 0, Cajucom 0, Dimayuga 0.
Lyceum 88 - Valdez 18, UMali 17, Bravo 15, Guadana 10, Montano 8, Cunanan 6, Navarro 5, Barba 5, Culanay 3, Larupay 0, Vinoya 0, Penafiel 0.
Quarters 28-21, 49-40, 79-58, 100-88.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
