Blazers edged Cardinals, forges four-way tie on top
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/03/2009 9:07 PM
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MANILA -- Basketball experts gave the College of Saint Benilde Blazers little chance to finish big this season. So far, the dribblers from Taft are proving them wrong.
Relying on key plays down the stretch, St. Benilde surprised last year's Final Four qualifier Mapua, 74-70, to join last year's runner-up Jose Rizal and tournament sensations San Sebastian and Arellano U at the helm in Season 85 of the NCAA at The Arena in San Juan City.
Veteran guard Jeff Morial unloaded 18 points but his assist on a wide open 6'5" rookie Jan Tan for the go-ahead basket in the stretch sealed the crucial lead-grabbing triumph.
It was a win that matched St. Benilde 2-0 (win-loss) start last season.
“Our win is a confidence builder going to our tough stretch against San Sebastian, San Beda ang Letran,” said St. Benilde coach Richard del Rosario.
The Cardinals, who underwent a major overhaul with the departure of coach Leo Isaac to the pros and key players Kelvin dela Pena, Neil Pascual and Ian Mazo, fell to their second straight setback to sink deeper down the standings.
Now the harder part, can the Blazers not go the same way last year's team went--dropping 10 of their last 12 games?
"That we don't want to happen," said del Rosario, who had a long career in the pros as defensive machine and hard worker.
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