The young Blazers of Strong Group Athletics tightened up their defensive screws in the fourth period to turn the tables on Kyusi Pablo Escobets, 86-78, in the PSL President’s Cup at the Filoi-EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
SGA-St. Benilde held Kyusi to only 10 points in the fourth period.
The Blazers started their comeback by clamping down on Pablo Escobets, holding them without a basket in the first three minutes of the final quarter while unloading eight straight points to turn a 61-68 deficit to a 69-68 lead.
From there on, the Blazers were able to get their rhythm even as they held Pablo Escobets to just a lone field goal in nearly six minutes.
By that time, the Blazers were about to pull away as a Joshua Cajucom jumper put SGA-St. Benilde ahead, 79-71, with 3:05 left and Kyusi was slow to respond.
It was the Blazers’ third win in five games while Pablo Escobets absorbed their fifth loss in 10 games.
Roger Ondoa, a prized recruit of St. Benilde along with Ian Torres for the coming National Collegiate Athletic Association, took control on offense as he finished with 19 points, four rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
“Nung una naninibago pa kami ni Ian, pero tuwing bnibigyan kami ng opportunity, hindi namin pinalalagpas. Sinusunod lang namin ang sistema namin,” said Ondoa, who won a championship with Torres while playing for the Immaculada Concepcion College in the NCRAA.
