MANILA — Winston Ynot delivered a stellar performance as the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers exacted revenge on the Mapua University Cardinals with a convincing 75–65 victory in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Ynot spearheaded the Blazers’ offense with 25 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, leading Benilde to its sixth win in nine outings and avenging its finals defeat to Mapua in last season’s championship series — the Cardinals’ first title in 33 years.
“It was about staying composed and sticking to our game plan,” Ynot said after the game. The Blazers kept their poise in the closing minutes, responding to Mapua’s fourth-quarter surge with a decisive 7–0 run punctuated by an Ian Torres free throw that restored a 71–61 cushion, effectively sealing the win.
Allen Liwag added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds for Benilde, while Torres contributed key baskets down the stretch.
Cyrus Cuenco led Mapua with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Earl Sapasap and Clint Escamis finished with 13 and 11, respectively. The loss sent the Cardinals tumbling to 4–5.
In another game, Joshua Moralejo shone in crunch time as the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates stunned the San Beda University Red Lions, 78–66.
After the Red Lions cut a double-digit deficit to 70–64, Moralejo hit back-to-back triples and a jumper to put the Pirates safely ahead, 78–64. He finished with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while teammates Gyle Montaño and John Barba chipped in 15 and 10 markers, respectively, improving Lyceum’s record to 2–7.
Agjanti Miller paced San Beda with 22 points and six rebounds, while John Bismarck Lina added 12 and eight in the loss, dropping the Red Lions to 6–3./PN
