NCAA: St. Benilde pulls off stunner vs. San Beda
College of St. Benilde leaned on Mark Romero’s fourth-quarter explosion as it stunned defending champion San Beda, 83-76, in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City on Monday.
Romero, on his final season, exploded with 20 points including 12 in the fourth quarter when the Blazers brought the down the Lions for good to nail their third straight victory against as many losses.
The win was St. Benilde’s first over San Beda since it won via forfeiture after former San Beda center Sam Ekwe wore a wrong uniform.
The Blazers’ last win over the Lions on the basketball court came nine seasons ago, a 91-86 win in overtime of a non-bearing elimination round game.
“It was a nice to beat a powerhouse team in San Beda. The feeling was like we won a championship,” said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco.
Juan Paolo Taha and Jonathan Grey provided some scoring relief for Romero after scattering 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Romero shone the brightest late in the game when he scored six unanswered points that shattered 71-all deadlock and the hearts of San Beda, which was coming into the game atop the heap with five straight wins.
The scores:
St. Benilde 83- Romero 20, Taha 16, Grey 15, Bartolo 9, Nayve 7, Ongteco 6, Argamino 5, Altamirano 3, Sinco 2, Jonson 0, Saavedra 0, Mercado 0.
San Beda 76- Amer 18, Adeogun 15, dela Cruz 15, Koga 13, A. Semerad 9, Pascual 6, D. Semerad 1, Cabanag 0, Mendoza 0, Sara 0, Mocon 0, Tongco 0, Solera 0.
Quarterscores: 25-23; 37-all; 53-55; 83-76
