Gab Cometa came off the bench and erupted for a career-high outing as De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde dismantled against Arellano University, 100-77, in NCAA Season 100 on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The transferee guard exploded for 23 points in just around 15 minutes of action to lead the Blazers’ high-octane offense, which allowed them to get their payback against the Chiefs who defeated them by two points in their first round meeting.
Benilde continued to solidify its hold of the top spot as it improved to 9-2 while Arellano slipped to 3-8.
"We talked about that loss. Siyempre, coming off a loss to them gusto naming bumawi. We felt that in the last game we should have won, but we were careless and threw the ball away a lot," Benilde head coach Charles Tiu said.
"Ngayon, we made sure to prepare and I give credit to the guys, they played really good basketball for us, so those are the keys."
The Blazers looked like a different team from the last time they met the Chiefs on the court.
A well-spread offense saw them enjoying a 54-36 lead at the break thanks to Cometa’s 16-point showing in the first half alone. The 24-year-old guard didn’t stop there, converting back-to-back baskets to stretch their lead to 31 at 76-45 as they limited Arellano to just 13 in the third frame.
Basti Valencia then tried to single-handedly rally the Chiefs after the graduating team captain scored 16 of his overall output in the fourth.
Benilde, however, had so many weapons in its arsenal with the likes of Anton Eusebio, Zenric Jarque, and Ian Torres knocking down the finishing touches.
To top it all off, seldom-used Gene Carillo soared for a one-handed slam in the 1:02 mark to seal the win as the Blazers continued to thrive even in the absence of top guard Tony Ynot, who has missed three of their last four games due to ankle injury.
Justine Sanchez supplied the support with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds alongside three assists and one steal while Allen Liwag chipped in 12 markers, six boards, and five dimes.
Valencia finished with 25 points together with eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block while T-mc Ongotan churned out 15 markers, eight boards, and two blocks.
Scores:
Benilde 100 - Cometa 23, Sanchez 14, Liwag 12, Ancheta 8, Torres 8, Turco 6, Ondoa 6, Oli 5, Morales 4, Carillo 4, Eusebio 3, Sangco 3, Cajucom 2, Jarque 2, Arciaga 0.
Arellano 77 - Valencia 25, Ongotan 15, Geronimo 10, Capulong 8, Vinoya 7, Flores 6, Borromeo 2, Miller 2, Camay 2, Espiritu 0, Acop 0, De Leon 0, Libang 0, Abiera 0.
Quarters: 26-12, 54-36, 76-49, 100-77.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
