MANILA, Philippines — Arellano University added another big fish to its growing NCAA Season 100 catch after it shocked leader St. Benilde, 73-71, yesterday to light up its flickering Final Four hopes at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
Ernest Geronimo delivered the decisive blows as he poured in six of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, including the short jumper that proved to be the coup de grace as the Chiefs snared their third win against six defeats that kept them in the race.
The win also sent the Blazers tumbling to a tie for first with the Mapua Cardinals at 6-2.
CSB was AU’s second whale after slaughtering reigning titlist San Beda, 72-70, last Sept. 28.
“We have nothing to prove but everything to gain,” said AU coach Chico Manabat.
CSB was coming off a 96-94 cliffhanger against San Sebastian Tuesday but it couldn’t survive this one.
Jeadan Ongotan played with a jammed left pinkie and paced his team with 16 points. But he missed a pair of free throws late that would have cut the Blazers’ jugular outright.
Good thing AU had a timely stop as CSB’s Justine Sanchez couldn’t sink the jumper from the right side as time expired.
And there was Geromino.
“Sabi ni coach tira lang dahil pina-practice naman namin ‘yun,” said the sophomore guard from Morong, Rizal.
In the other game, Jose Rizal U whipped up a fourth quarter storm as it downed Emilio Aguinaldo, 75-63, to improve to 3-5, the same slate of the latter.