College of St. Benilde continued its dominance in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball after thrashing University of Perpetual Help, 78-51, to remain unscathed at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Displaying their deep rotation, the Blazers outhustled the Altas from the get-go and maintained their double-digit lead throughout to snare their fourth win in as many outings.

Justin Sanchez unloaded 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Winston Ynot and Gab Cometa chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Blazers ripped the game wide open by leading as many as 29 points, 69-40, at the end of the third.

St. Benilde coach Charles Tiu trusted his stalwarts’ capabilities but admitted he wasn’t expecting a lopsided victory against what he perceived as one of the strong teams in the league.

“Obviously, you prepare for every game and every game you expect to win, but I didn’t think that we’d play this well,” said Tiu, whose squad remains the only unbeaten crew this season.

“I give my credit to the players. They really defended well. Kasi I’ve been telling them the past week that Perpetual is a really strong team with a great coach. So I’m just happy the players delivered,” he added.

Perpetual waxed hot by taking an early 6-4 lead but St. Benilde immediately stepped on the gas, grabbing the 18-10 upperhand in the opening period before outscoring the Altas in the second, 32-19, for a comfortable 69-40 cushion at the half.

Mark Gojo Cruz and Shawn Orgo tried to revive the Altas in the last two quarters but the Blazers kept its rhythm as other players like Jhomel Ancheta, Ian Torres and Jose Eusebio contributed a little of everything.

Cruz finished with a double-double performance of 11 points and 10 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough as the Altas absorbed their second straight defeat and dropped to 2-2 to join the defending champion San Beda Red Lions and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the middle standings.

It also didn’t help that the Blazers took advantage in every department, scoring 11 points off turnovers, draining 19 second-chance points and making 15 fastbreak points.

The Scores:

ST. BENILDE 78 - Sanchez 13, Ynot 12, Cometa 10, Ancheta 9, Torres 8, Eusebio 8, Serrano 7, Liwag 4, Morales 3, Sangco 2, Ondoa 2, Jarque 0, Turco 0, Oli 0, Carillo 0.

PERPETUAL 51 - Gojo Cruz 11, Orgo 10, Boral 9, Abis 4, Pizarro 4, J. Manuel 4, Pagaran 4, Nuñez 3, Montemayor 2, Gelsano 0, Cauguiran 0, Sevilla 0, Javier 0, Movida 0, B. Manuel 9.

Quarters: 18-10; 50-29; 69-40; 78-51.