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| Allen Liwag put up another solid game for CSB. NCAA |
MANILA––College of St. Benilde moved closer to clinching a spot in the NCAA Final Four after edging Emilio Aguinaldo College, 69-65, in a crucial Sunday game at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
An 8-1 run within the last four minutes of the game mattered a lot for the Blazers as they also strengthened their hold of first place in the team standings.
Down 59-61 midway through the fourth quarter, a wide-open three from Tony Ynot put CSB back up, 62-61, with 3:42 left.
Wilmar Oftana had a chance to give EAC the lead back, but he could only make a split from the charity stripe and the game was tied, 62-all, with 3:15 to play.
Allen Liwag scored on a three-point play to put the Blazers ahead once more, 65-62, with 2:04 left while fishing Harvey Pagsanjan's fifth foul.
Ynot then scored on a layup to give them a five-point cushion with 1:36 remaining.
Nico Quinal kept the Generals alive with a triple that cut the lead to two, but they could not convert a basket from thereon even as Quinal committed a crucial turnover that doomed them in the end.
Liwag led CSB, which moved up to 11-2 and is now assured of at least a playoff for the fourth seed, with 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Ynot, in his comeback game, added 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal off the bench.
The team can officially clinch a Final Four spot with a win against Perpetual Help on Wednesday.
Pagsanjan led EAC, which dropped to a tie with Lyceum for fifth place at 6-7, with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
The scores:
ST. BENILDE 69 – Liwag 15, Ynot 14, Torres 9, Cometa 7, Eusebio 6, Sangco 5, Ondoa 4, Sanchez 3, Oli 3, Cajucom 3, Morales 0, Ancheta 0, Turco 0, Serrano 0
EAC 65 – Pagsanjan 16, Quinal 12, Gurtiza 10, Lucero 5, Doromal 5, Loristo 4, Bacud 4, Ochavo 3, Oftana 3, Bagay 3, Angeles 0, Luciano 0, Ednilag 0, Umpad 0
Quarterscores: 13-20, 34-34, 49-44, 69-65
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