By Nikole Javier
Miguel Oczon exploded with a 20-point third quarter outburst as College of St. Benilde handed San Sebastian its first loss, 100-94, to stay in the winning column of the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Friday, Sept 16.
Following his successful transfer to St. Benilde last season, the 6-foot guard wasted no time and shone brilliantly in their second game of the season, posting 25 points including three assists and two steals.
The Blazers built enough cushion courtesy of a huge third quarter run to hold off a late Stags rally in the fourth.
Assistant coach Paolo Layug took over the role of head coach Charles Tiu who was not feeling well before the game, and his lineup did not disappoint despite almost blowing away the big lead thanks to Oczon’s hot hands in the third quarter.
“I think in the fourth quarter, we relaxed. We really had a big lead and there’s a tendency I guess when you’re up big, you’re thinking that the game’s gonna be over,” said Layug.
“With Migs, I’m not surprised at all. He’s the hardest working player on our team. He routinely wakes up every day and gets hundreds of shots every day. And what he did today, I guess (we) trust his work, he puts in the work, he earns his minutes out there. He made shots and that’s why we got him here,” Layug continued.
The 22-year-old was in turn delighted with the trust placed on him by his coaches and teammates, taking the role as a challenge to “do what the coaches want me to do.”
“It’s a long season. Luckily, we have time to improve, malayo pa ‘yong gusto naming mapuntahan. Ito talaga, mistakes happen. Pero we learn from it,” added Oczon.
With Will Gozum and Miguel Corteza behind him for their championship bid, Oczon and the rest of the Blazers will be preparing for their next game against the Atlas on Tuesday, Sept. 20, who knocked them out of the Final Four in the previous season and are also coming off their loss from the Chiefs on the same day.