A week after slaying defending champion San Beda, Arellano caught another big fish in league-leading College of St. Benilde with a hard-earned 73-71 victory on Friday, Oct. 4, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Despite residing at the cellar and coming off a 77-71 loss to the Mapua Cardinals two days back, the Chiefs still displayed tenacity against the powerhouse crew to finish the first-round eliminations with three wins against six defeats.

Jeadan Ongotan carried the fight for Arellano with 16 points and four rebounds while Ernest Geronimo also stepped up especially when it mattered most, firing 14 points including a crucial jumper that gave them enough separation, 73-69, with 29.6 seconds to go.

St. Benilde had the chance to grab the victory after Jhomel Ancheta retaliated with his own basket, but it failed to capitalize its final possession in the dying seconds as Justine Sanchez missed a buzzer-beating jumper.

It was a morale-boosting triumph for the Chiefs, whose suffered some close defeats that could have gone the other way.

This time, though, Arellano coach Chico Manabat and his stalwarts made sure they are closing the game in their favor.

Manabat had nothing but praises for his hardworking players.

“Wala akong masabi sa mga batang to. Mga may pusong palaban talaga sila,” said Manabat.

“Basta yung preparation namin, very hard. Gusto naming manalo siyempre at inisip lang namin, nothing to lose kami and everything to gain,” he added.

Arellano, indeed, had to dig deep to overcome St. Benilde as it fought through five deadlocks and nine lead changes.

The Chiefs also took advantage of the Blazers’ erratic plays, where they managed 31 points off St. Benilde’s 24 turnovers despite getting outrebounded, 30-50.

St. Benilde, who played without ailing main man Winston Ynot, turned to Allen Liwag, Gab Cometa and Sanchez but the trio’s efforts went futile.

Liwag, as expected, had a double-double performance of 18 points and 17 rebounds, while Cometa and Sanchez scored 15 and 10 points in a losing cause for the Blazers, who slipped to 6-2 for a share of the lead with the Mapua Cardinals.

In the other game, Jose Rizal University thumped Emilio Aguinaldo College, 75-63, to post its third win in eight games and tie with its victims.

Joshua Guiab displayed his all-around game for the Bombers by pumping in 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Robin Bernardo and Shawn Argente chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

King Gurtiza and Paolo Bagay scored 15 and 12 points for EAC, but failed to sustain its momentum from last week’s victory over Lyceum.

The scores:

ARELLANO 73 - Ongotan 16, Geronimo 14 Abiera 10, Capulong 8, Valencia 8, Vinoya 7, Hernal 5, Libang 4, Borromeo 1, Dela Cruz 0, Camay 0.

ST. BENILDE - Liwag 18, Cometa 15, Sanchez 10, Torres 9, Oli 7, Ondoa 3, Morales 3, Ancheta 2, Cajucom 2, Turco 2, Sangco 0, Eusebio 0.

Quarters: 23-11; 40-39; 56-58; 73-71.