Almost halfway through the second round, teams have started to get a sense of where their playoff hopes stand. Benilde and Mapúa look comfortable at the top, defending champs San Beda are steady at the third spot, while the rest figure in a logjam in the middle to stay in the hunt for a Final Four slot.
This sixth edition of the NCAA: Week in Review had no shortage of spectacular exploits and magical moments despite a number of games postponed due to bad weather conditions.
(G62) Letran vs San Sebastian
Letran won, 101-98. Whenever hope felt elusive for the Knights, Deo Cuajao would pull something out of his wizardly cloak of offense. And magic he brought.
The Midsayap, North Cotabato native exploded for 34 points laced with seven threes, nothing bigger than a game-winning triple that finally struck down the Stags in a double overtime classic.
(G63) Perpetual vs Arellano
Arellano won, 66-59. The Chiefs clinched a back-to-back after extinguishing the Altas by coming alive in the fourth and final frame. Maverick Vinoya put on a showcase, scattering 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists in front of a 1050-strong Arellano crowd at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
All four games (LPU v DLS-CSB; EAC v JRU; Arellano v Mapúa; San Sebastian v San Beda) initially scheduled on October 23 and October 25 were postponed to a later date by NCAA ManCom chairman Hercules Callanta due to bad weather conditions caused by Typhoon Kristine)
(G64) LPU vs Perpetual
Perpetual won, 89-83. JP Boral’s 18-6-3 statline topped the Altas’ balanced attack that paved the way for a much-needed victory over the Pirates.
Christian Pagaran, Jearico Nuñez, and John Abis all provided double-digit contributions, while star rookie Mark Gojo Cruz stacked the box score with nine points, seven rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block.
(G65) JRU vs Letran
JRU won, 90-86. Mart Barrera notched a career-best 22 markers in only 20 minutes of play, while Joshua Guiab and Wayne de Leon chipped in 19 and 10 respectively, to successfully nullify Jimboy Estrada’s 29-point rampage for Letran.
(G66) DLS-CSB vs EAC
DLS-CSB won, 69-65. The Blazers met a tough customer in the Generals, but Allen Liwag– when his towering presence was urgently needed– just could not be stopped.
During a crucial sequence in the game’s final stretch, it felt like Liwag had put the ball under a spell, single-handedly keeping the possession alive for the Blazers and capping it with an emphatic and-one play. Liwag dropped 15 points, nine rebounds, and two assists to help the Blazers win is their fifth straight and 11th overall in #NCAA100.
(G67) San Sebastian vs Arellano
San Sebastian won, 88-75. San Sebastian trailed by as much as 15, but steadily galloped back in the second half to beat Arellano in classic San Sebastian comeback fashion!
Nikko Aguilar collected 16 points and five rebounds to steer the Stags to victory, snapping the Chiefs’ two-game win streak while claiming their fourth overall in #NCAA100.
TEAM STANDINGS (as of October 28, 2024)
- 11-2 Benilde Blazers
- 10-3 Mapúa Cardinals
- 8-5 San Beda Red Lions
- 7-7 Letran Knights
- 6-7 LPU Pirates
- 6-7 EAC Generals
- 6-8 Perpetual Altas
- 5-9 Arellano Chiefs
- 4-9 JRU Heavy Bombers
- 4-10 San Sebastian Stags
IMPACT PLAYERS
Allen Liwag
There is no denying that Allen Liwag’s name is an MVP conversation shoo-in this season. He is a phenomenal talent whose physical gifts and court brilliance easily translate into material gains– something the Benilde Blazers have been benefiting from since Liwag joined the fray.
In their win against EAC, Liwag went to work against the hefty big men of Coach Jerson Cabiltes, racking up a team-high 15 points to go along with nine rebounds and two assists.
With an 11-2 record with five elimination games remaining, the Benilde Blazers are determined to keep the top spot to themselves, and Allen Liwag is going to be a pivotal difference-maker in their title campaign.
He is the undisputed rebound king in #NCAA100 with 11.23 boards a game. He is averaging 14.15 points– good for eight overall league-wide– while shooting 55.73% from the field, and is also the league’s fourth best blocker.
Nikko Aguilar
Do not be deceived by the short and stocky frame of 5-foot-10 Nikko Aguilar, because what he lacks in height he makes up for in three-point shooting and footwork.
Averaging only 16 minutes of playtime per contest, Aguilar impressively leads the team in total threes made with 23, shooting at a decent 37.7% clip. Last Sunday, Nikko dropped 16 points, five rebounds, and a number of highlight plays to steer the Stags to a come-from-behind win against Arellano.
His 8.64 PPG in limited minutes is a welcome sight especially for a team that’s been struggling to find its offensive flow all season long.
Mart Barrera
Mart Barrera’s effective perimeter game was on full display during their win against the Letran Knights on Saturday. The Tanjay City, Negros Oriental native tallied a career-best 22 markers, almost half of which generated using a one-handed push shot he seems to have practiced to perfection.
That he produced that much in only 20 minutes of action is a feat in and of itself, but it’s the timing of such output that had made it more relevant. His breakout game could not have come at a better time as they needed every inch of his contribution against yet another offensive onslaught by Knights star Jimboy Estrada who exploded for 29 points.
