ST. Benilde scores twinkill in Mapua turf

MANILA, Philippines — College of St. Benilde outlasted Mapua University in a battle, eking out a 71-67 victory yesterday to jump back to the top alongside San Beda in the 95th NCAA basketball tournament at the Mapua gym in Intramuros, Manila yesterday.

St. Benilde scored a sweep of Mapua in its turf as CSB-La Salle Greenhills edged the home team, 95-90, in juniors play earlier in the day.

Justin Gutang paced his team with 12 points before he was taken out after hurting his left leg with 3.2 seconds to go while James Pasturan and Clement Leutcheu chipped in 11 apiece to lead the Blazers to their third straight win in  one of their best starts in the league in a long while.

CSB had to fight their way back after trailing almost all throughout the duel before grinding it out in the final period.

“It’s still too early to say or assess anything, we’re just taking it a game at a time and not think ahead that much,” said CSB coach TY Tang.

Gutang’s injury added to the long list of hurting CSB players like Yankie Haruna (jaw), Robby Nayve (concussion), Chris Flores (MCL), Pasturan (shoulder), Carlo Lim (hamstring) and Leutcheu (quad).

Arvin Gamboa scored 14 points to pace the Cardinals, who skidded to a fourth straight setback.