Its manpower shortage was hardly felt for De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde as it halted Mapua University’s winning streak, 65-61, in the NCAA Season 99 on Wednesday.
Benilde copped back-to-back games to improve to 6-4 while Mapua saw its six-game surge come to an end to go 8-2. Mapua, though, remained at the spot.
With the absence of team captain Robi Nayve and the foul trouble of Will Gozum, a number of Blazers stepped up big time for the Blazers, whose first round loss to Mapua started the Cardinals’ six-game winning streak.
Jess Arciaga and Joshua Marcos, both coming off the bench, fueled a 6-2 run to open the fourth and stretch their biggest lead to 10 at 57-47.
But league-leading Mapua retaliated with a 10-2 rampage of its own to pull to within two, 57-59.
Benilde, though, has always found the answer as Mark Sangco and Miggy Corteza buried back-to-back treys from downtown for a 65-57 cushion in the final 2:51.
Paolo Hernandez earned a foul from Gozum, who was then fouled out with 43.2 ticks left, but the Mapua gunner went wide on his two freebies that could have sent the game into a one-possession ballgame, 65-61.
Felipe Marasigan missed his attempt in the final moments but Benilde secured the offensive rebounds en route to the win.
Corteza top-scored the Blazers with 17 points alongside nine rebounds while Gozum finished with 11 markers, three boards, and three assists before getting fouled out.
Clint Escamis paced Mapua with 19 points, five rebounds, five steals, and three assists while Jopet Soriano and Hernandez chipped in 14 and 10 markers apiece.
Benilde returns to action on Sunday against rejuvenated Perpetual while Mapua takes on Letran on Saturday.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
