The College of St. Benilde Blazers let four key players do the heavy lifting as they turned back the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 74-66, Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
Edward Dixon, Prince Carlos, Justin Gutang, and Yankie Haruna scored from the free throw line in the last 40 seconds to carry the Blazers to their sixth win in eight games in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
The Heavy Bombers were within range, 62-67, with 46.3 ticks to go when they ran into foul trouble.
That’s when Dixon, Carlos, Gutang, and Haruna sent in all but one of their eight freebies to keep JRU at bay once and for all.
Gutang powered CSB with 14 points on top of eight rebounds and two assists, while Dixon and Haruna chipped in 10 and nine markers, respectively.
The win came with head coach TY Tang serving a one-game suspension, and with court general Jimboy Pasturan out for the year due to a dislocated shoulder.
The win also arrested back-to-back losses, with the Blazers now seeking a second straight win with their showdown with Letran.
“That’s huge for us. We’re dreaming of a top two spot and if we beat Letran, we will be no. 2 to end the first round,” assistant coach Charles Tiu.
Earlier, Kobe Palencia starred as the La Salle Green Hills Greenies stayed ahead in the junior division at the expense of Jose Rizal University High School, 78-62.
Palencia buried 27 points and had five rebounds, three assists, and three steals for the Greenies, who are in solo third.
San Sebastian College-Recoletos avoided an upset in beating the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers, 86-81, in overtime.
Louise Concha had 16 points while Milo Janao, who led the way in the extra time, made five of 14 points in the extra period to stop the Staglets’ four-game skid.