Justin Sánchez of the School of St. Benilde after the Blazers' victory over the Perpetual Assist Altas.–NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Justin Sanchez made two key baskets as School of St. Benilde held off Perpetual Assist's comeback, 61-56, to formalize their entry into the Ultimate 4 of the NCAA Season 100 men's básquet tournament.
In control most of the time, the Blazers saw their double-digit lead diminish in the final minutes before
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Sanchez saved the day with a spinning floater up the middle followed by an assertive drive that stopped the Altas in their tracks.
READ: NCAA: Benilde approaches Ultimate 4, cuts EAC behind Allen Liwag
Cementing their spots in the semifinal, the Blazers (11-2) are now concerned with securing the top two spots to seal a twice-to-beat lead.
“We expect our remaining games to become more difficult as we try to win twice. But we will be ready,” Sánchez said after finishing with a team-high 16 points.
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Allen Liwag added 10 points and six rebounds to prevent the Altas, who reduced the deficit to 57-53 in two minutes with an alley-oop by Christian Pagaran after a lob by Emman Pizarro.
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Sanchez then took care of it, eluding a defender off the dribble and turning in the middle for a floater that again increased the Blazers' lead.
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Showing his goods, the lanky 6ft 4in forward merienda again struck from the center and attacked the Perpetual defense to take an eight-point lead for CSB.
READ: NCAA leader Benilde too much for hapless JRU
Rookie Mark Gojo Cruz scored a three-pointer from the corner and Gab Cometa lost his ball on the bench in the next sequence, giving the Altas hope.
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Pagaran's long three-pointer failed to hit the target and the Blazers sealed the victory by using time.
Pagaran scored 18 points and Gojo Cruz had 15 for Altas, who fell to 6-9 with a semifinal appearance quickly slipping away.
The scores:
STREET. BENILDE 61 – Sánchez 16, Liwag 10, Torres 6, Sangco 5, Oli 5, Cometa 5, Turco 5, Ynot 4, Eusebio 2, Jarque 2, Ondoa 1, Ancheta 0, Morales 0, Cajucom 0
PERPETUAL HELP 56 – Pagarán 18, Gojo Cruz 15, Boral 5, Manuel 5, Abis 4, Pizarro 3, Movida 2, Nuñez 2, Gelsao 2, Thompson 0, Montemayor 0
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Scoring quarters: 20-12, 38-22, 51-34, 61-56
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