NCAA: CDO standout lifts Benilde over Lyceum

FOR three quarters, College of Saint Benilde saw itself slowly bowing to guest team Lyceum of the Philippines on Monday’s NCAA men’s basketball game not until top guard Carlo Lastimosa came to bail them out.

Lastimosa, who hails from Cagayan de Oro, unloaded 10 of his 14 points in the final canto as the Blazers defeated the Pirates, 70-61, at The Arena in San Juan City.

“I just did what my coach wanted me to do and that is to step up in difficult situations,” he told Sun.Star.

Playing for 28 minutes, the 21-year-old Lastimosa also hauled six rebounds and six assists, while Juan Taha and Luis Sinco combined for 21 points for the Blazers.

“We have a sloppy defense and there was a lot of confusion in my players, that’s why Lyceum was able to lead us for some time,” fourth year coach Richard del Rosario said.

The game, however, was dotted by identical six deadlocks and leadchanges.

Leading the Pirates’ losing cause was Chris Cayabyab, who poured 13 points and eight points. He was followed by Shane Ko with 11 and Floricel Guevarra, 8. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

THE SCORES:

Benilde (70)- Lastimosa 14, Taha 11, Sinco 10, Romero 9, Grey 8, Tan 8, Tolentino 6, Ongteco 4, Maconocido 0, Garcia 0, Bartolo 0, Deles 0, Altamirano, 0.

Lyceum (61)- Cayabyab 13, Ko 11, Guevarra 8, Azores 8, Laude 6, Zamora 5, Ambohot 4, Francisco 4, Mendoza 2, Garcia 0, Mallari 0.

Quarterscores: 12-12, 33-31, 49-53, 70-61.