Migs Oczon and Will Gozum connived and showed poise down the stretch to help lift College of St. Benilde past Letran, 76-71, in Game 2 of the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament Finals Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Blazers turned the tides in their favor after a strong showing in the second half before Oczon and Gozum, who was hailed as Season 98 MVP, made clutch plays to force a rubber match at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Dec. 18.
Gozum posted another double-double performance of 21 points built on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc along with 10 rebounds, and three blocks while Miggy Corteza also did the same with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
The payoff period saw a nip-and-tuck affair with St. Benilde leading for the most part behind the efforts of Oczon, who had 15 points on top of four triples to go with seven rebounds, and Robi Nayve, who chipped in 10 points and four assists.
Tied at 71-all after King Caralipio's basket down to the last two minutes, it was all the Blazers at that point despite Oczon's missed three-pointer attempt at the 1:45 mark.
Gozum sparked CSB's late plays with a crucial layup with 55.4 seconds left against the defense of Mark Sangco en route to a 73-71 lead.
Sangalang missed a basket, which could have salvaged Letran, in the ensuing play before Oczon hit a turnaround jumper over the outstretched arms of Brent Paraiso with 20.2 ticks left.
The Knights, who earlier missed the services of Fran Yu in the second quarter due to a disqualification foul, still have the chance to at least cut the deficit but Caralipio couldn't convert a basket also as Jimboy Pasturan iced the game with a split free throw.
Pasturan also secured an offensive rebound as the Blazers are also on the cusp of an NCAA title.
Paraiso paced Letran with 16 points and seven rebounds while Sangalang and Kurt Reyson had 11 points apiece with the former grabbing 10 rebounds.
The Scores:
CSB 76 -- Gozum 21, Corteza 21, Oczon 15, Nayve 10, Pasturan 3, Sangco 3, Carlos 3, Cullar 0, Marcos 0, Davis 0, Lepalam 0, Flores 0, Lim 0.
LETRAN 71 -- Paraiso 16, Sangalang 11, Reyson 11, Caralipio 9, Yu 6, Santos 6, Javillonar 5, Olivario 4, Ariar 3, Guarino 0, Go 0.
Quarters: 20-23, 34-45, 64-59, 76-71.