Castro jumper propels Dolphins

Jason Castro scored on a running jumper from the right flank in the last 13.9 seconds as Philippine Christian U hacked out a 74-72 victory over San Sebastian College to seize the lead in the the 82nd NCAA basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Castro’s game-winner saved the day for the Dolphins, who took control in the second and third quarters behind Gabby Espinas’ imposing presence inside but sputtered at endgame. It was PCU’s second straight victory in three starts.

Idle Letran, the defending champion, is the only unbeaten team with a 1-0 mark.

Espinas, the 2004 rookie MVP, dominated the paint and pounded his way for 24 points while Castro finished with 11 behind Robby David’s 13-point output.

The Dolphins led by as many as 12 points, 58-46, late in the third quarter but turned cold, enabling the Stags to bounce back and knot the count at 72-all with less than a minute to go in the contest.

But the Stags failed to convert on their scoring opportunities before Castro, who actually struggled in the early going, seized the moment to shine with that winning jumper.

The Stags had two more opportunities to snatch the win but Jim Viray and Red Vicente misfired from the three-point area.

"They are big time players, it’s really up to them to shine," said PCU mentor Joel Dualan referring to the power duo of Espinas and Castro.

Earlier, host St. Benilde showed up with an improved three-point shooting as it repulsed Perpetual Help, 79-76, to even its mark to 1-1.

After going 0-of-20 from behind the arc in their 44-65 loss to the Knights last week, the Blazers came out with guns blazing this time as they buried 11 triples, including nine in the second half that anchored their victory.

Gerald Layug accounted for three of them to finish with 19 points while Kris Robles, William Johnston and Garri Sevilla chipped in 15, 14 and 10 points, respectively.

"It’s a big improvement in our first game," said St. Benilde coach Caloy Garcia, referring to their three-point shooting. "It’s a must for us to have that weapon because we’re not that big compared to other teams."

Khiel Misa led all scorers with 26 points but failed to get the job done down the stretch as the Altas slid to a share of third spot with the Blazers, the Mapua Cardinals and the San Beda Lions on 1-1 (win-loss) slates.

In juniors’ action, the St. Benilde Greenies walloped the Perpetual Help Altalettes, 87-75, to notch their second straight victory.