Arellano overpowers St. Benilde to keep Final Four bid afloat
By Maxine Louise Lagman
5 October 2017
The Arellano University kept their Final Four hopes alive after prevailing over the College of St. Benilde, 95-65 on Thursday in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The win lifted the Chiefs’ record to a 6-9 card tying with the Emilio Aguinaldo College at sixth place behind fourth running Letran. If Arellano wins their last three games and end up with nine wins, the Chiefs could still clinch for the third spot in the league.
“Malaki ang game na ito para samin, kasi hindi mo pa alam ang mangyayari sa games ng third-placer, which is I think JRU. So kami, lahat ng assignments namin, we just have to close it at talunin namin,” said Arellano Coach Jerry Codinera.
Kent Salado led the Chiefs with a double-double 16 points and 11 assists, while Lervin Flores chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Rence Alcoriza chipped in 11 markers, nine of which came in the first quarter to keep a 28-16 lead.
Meanwhile, Zach Nicholls and Richard Abantes combined 24 points in the second half to push the Chiefs lead to as much as 30 points and eventually seal the win. Nicholls and Abantes finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Kendrix Belgica boosted the Blazers with 18 points and eight rebounds, while JJ Domingo chipped in 14 markers, three assists and two boards in the losing effort.
St. Benilde was handed their fourth straight defeat in the season and dropped to a 3-13 slate.
ST. BENILDE 65 – Belgica 18, Domingo 14, Naboa 8, Dixon 5, Leutcheu 5, San Juan 4, Johnson 3, Sta. Maria 3, Young 3, Pili 2, Castor 0, Suarez 0, Velasco 0.
Quarters: 28-16, 47-33, 69-50, 95-65.
Follow the writer on Twitter: [social link=”https://twitter.com/meanxi” icon=”62218″]
