COLLEGE of Saint Benilde rediscovered its winning ways with a 92-79 victory over Jose Rizal University in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

MVP contender Will Gozum waxed hot with a career-high 34 points to along with eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals as the Blazers remained on course to end a long and agonzing 20-year Final Four drought with their league-best 9-2 record.

Gozum’s scoring output is the highest since Allyn Bulanadi dropped 44 points in San Sebastian’s 99-94 win over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta on October 18, 2019.

Earlier, Arellano University avenged its narrow first round loss to Lyceum of the Philippines University with a 77-63 victory to keep its Final Four hopes alive.

Benilde coach Charles Tiu was very glad on the way his troops responded from last week’s stunning 75-80 loss to last-place Emilio Aguinaldo College.

It also helped for the Blazers that the Bombers’ 18-day break ruined the momentum of their five-game winning run.

“With the way played today, I’m satisfied naman. JRU is a good team but maybe we caught a break na galing health and safety protocols ang mga iyan,” said Tiu. “Some key guys, they ran out of gas, but they are a good team. They are strong, they are solid. They are a Final Four contender like us. I’m happy with the win.”

The loss negated Ry dela Rosa’s personal-best 26 points for the Bombers, who fell out of the Final Four range with their third loss in eight games.

The Chiefs lost to the Pirates, 80-82, last October 11, where the Legarda-based cagers failed to sustain their strong first half showing and had to play catch-up down the stretch.

This time around, Arellano coach Cholo Martin made sure that there will be no meltdowns, using a big 31-point third quarter to improve to 5-6 record and check a three-game slide.

“May two games kami, yung Letran and yung previous meeting namin sa LPU. Yung third quarter and fourth quarter, suddenly nagko-collapse. Sabi ko hindi na puwedeng mangyari iyan,” said Martin. “So, sa practice, pukpukan na.”

The Pirates dropped to 8-4, now trailing the Knights (9-3) by a game in the race for the No. 2 ranking in the Final Four.

Cade Flores was solid for the Chiefs with a career-high 23 points, 12 rebounds and season-best seven steals, while Axel Doromal chipped in 18 points, five boards and five assists.

LPU tried to make a run in the payoff period, but Arellano’s tough defense kept its foes at bay.

“Actually, pinag-aralan lahat. Yung strength and weaknesses. Okay naman sila, nag-approve naman sila, ito ang gagawin natin. So, kailangan hindi puwedeng mabagal, kailangan mabilis. You help, you recover. At tsaka, bakbakan. Pisikal kung pisikal, kung kailangan pisikal,” said Martin.

JM Bravo and Renz Villegas led the Pirates with 12 points, as the team’s leading scorer Mac Guadaña could only muster two points on a 1-of-8 shooting, way beyond his 12.82-point average this season.

The scores: 

First Game

Arellano (77) — Flores 23, Doromal 18, Talampas 9, Menina 8, Mallari 6, Tolentino 6, Domingo 2, Abastillas 2, Sunga 2, Oliva 1, Mantua 0, Oftana 0.
LPU (63) — Bravo 12, Villegas 12, Barba 9, Valdez 9, Navarro 4, Umali 4, Larupay 3, Montaño 3, Vinoya 3, Cunanan 2, Guadaña 2, Aviles 0, Caduyac 0, Culanay 0.
Quarterscores: 20-21, 33-34, 64-48, 77-63

Second Game
Benilde (92) — Gozum 34, Corteza 13, Oczon 12, Pasturan 10, Sumabat 9, Sangco 4, Carlos 4, Cullar 2, Nayve 2, Mara 2, Flores 0, Dimayuga 0.
JRU (79) — Dela Rosa 26, Amores 19, Guiab 12, Medina 7, Miranda 6, Sy 4, Gonzales 3, Dionisio 2, Joson 0, De Jesus 0, Tan 0, Famaranco 0.
Quarterscores: 20-19, 45-43, 67-58, 92-79