MANILA, Philippines - St. Benilde held off UST’s repeated rallies to carve out a 75-70 victory and seal a showdown with Perpetual Help for the 10th Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open basketball crown at the Trinity University of Asia gym in QC last Sunday.
Jonathan Grey fired 17 points while Paolo Taha, Mark Romero and Robert Bartolo added 13, 12 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Blazers took charge in the closing minutes to pound out the win.
The Altas, meanwhile, leaned on Harold Arboleda’s charity in the closing seconds to thwart Lyceum, 55-52, in the other semifinal duel in the tournament backed by Twin Towers Bakery.
The Blazers and the Altas dispute the crown at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the San Beda gym in Mendiola.
The Altas, who struggled in the absence of suspended Cameroonian Akhuetie Bright, turned to Arboleda’s split charity in the last two seconds to preserve the lead and the victory.