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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider Liwag-less Blazers dismantle Knights; Cardinals triumph

Liwag-less Blazers dismantle Knights; Cardinals triumph

Published Nov 14, 2025 02:38 pm

At A Glance

  • College of St. Benilde toppled Letran, 80-74, even without main man Allen Liwag to clinch solo second in Group B in the NCAA Season 101 men's basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Friday, Nov. 14.
Ian Torres sparks CSB's run to outlast Letran. (NCAA Images)
Ian Torres sparks CSB's run to outlast Letran. (NCAA Images)
College of St. Benilde toppled Letran, 80-74, even without main man Allen Liwag to clinch solo second in Group B in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Friday, Nov. 14.
What began as a neck-and-neck duel flipped into a one-sided stretch as the Blazers unloaded a decisive 15-0 run sparked by Jhomel Ancheta and Raffy Celis to erase a 61-66 deficit and build a 76-66 cushion in the fourth -- a lead they protected with a defensive masterclass that smothered the Knights.
Aside from recovering from its 80-76 loss to San Beda, the Taft-based squad hiked its record to 7-4 at second, while Letran dropped to third with a 6-5 card.
The victory also replicated St. Benilde’s 95-80 triumph over Letran last Oct. 8 at the same venue.
“I give them credit [Benilde] because they didn’t back down. Letran is such a tough, physical team,” said CSB head coach Charles Tiu.
“And kahit papano underman kami without Allen, lumaban naman sila and pumalag sila, they defended well it mattered,” he added.
Ian Torres, who ignited their run off a buzzer-beating triple in the third, starred for the Blazers with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Justine Sanchez posted 14 points and eight rebounds.
Also providing support were John Morales and Tony Ynot with 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Ancheta chipped in 10 points.
Titing Manalili scored 16 points, two rebounds, five assists, and five steals, even as Jimboy Estrada and Aaron Buensalida added 14 and 10 points, respectively, in a losing effort for Letran.
Meanwhile, reigning champion Mapua hammered out a vengeful 77-61 win over league-leader University of Perpetual Help System Dalta to go two in a row that strengthened its hold of second in Group A.
With Clint Escamis leading the way, the Cardinals turned on the jets before the break and continued their assault in the third where they ballooned their lead to 18, 48-30, that was too much for the Altas to overcome.
Mapua improved to 6-5 at second place, while Perpetual, which already qualified in the semifinal, remained atop of the standings with an 8-3 tally.
Escamis rallied the Randy Alcantara-mentored crew with 18 points, two rebounds, five assists, and one steal, while Cyrus Cuenco and Yam Concepcion chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Josiah Alcantara, on the other hand, finished as the lone double-digit scorer for Perpetual with 10 points, while Patrick Sleat and Ray Allen Maglupay posted nine points each.
The scores (Benilde-Letran):
St. Benilde 80 – Torres 15, Sanchez 14, Morales 13, Ynot 12, Ancheta 10, Umali 5, Celis 3, Gaspay 3, Eusebio 3, Cometa 2, Cajucom 0, Oli 0.
Letran 74 – Manalili 16, Estrada 14, Buensalida 10, Roque 9, Omega 9, Santos 8, Gammad 7, Rosilio 1, Cuajao 0, Tapenio 0, Silorio 0, Yusi 0, Montecillo 0.
Quarters: 31-24, 48-50, 69-66, 80-74.
The scores (Mapua-Perpetual):
MAPÚA 77 – Escamis 18, Cuenco 13, Concepcion 11, Sapasap 10, Gonzales 8, Igliane 7, Delos Reyes 4, Nitura 2, Lazarte 2, Abdulla 2, Recto 0, Callangan 0, Ryan 0, Gulapa 0, Reyes 0
PERPETUAL 61 – Alcantara 10, Sleat 9, Maglupay 9, Gojo Cruz 8, Boral 8, Casinilio 6, Tulabut 5, Orgo 3, Abis 2, Nuñez 1, Pagulayan 0, Guibao 0, Duremdes 0
Quarters: 16-12, 40-30, 58-42, 77-61
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