Matthew Oli stepped up when needed the most as he pumped in 19 points, including three three-point shots, as he powered SGA-St. Benilde to an 87-83 win over JT Taipan Bulacan in the PSL President’s Cup at the Filoil-EcoOIl Centre.
Anton Eusebio also tallied 19 markers to set the tone early for the Blazers’ early rampage, but it was Oli, who came through with timely baskets that kept the rallying Taipan at bay.
The Blazers posted a 12-point lead, 50-38, but the Taipan kept on coming back and made a game of it in the fourth period.
A triple by Michael Are shoved Bulacan within striking distance, 69-68, with still 6:25 left.
The Taipan threatened for the last time, 80-82, on a three-point play completed by Itchie Altamirano with 1:10 left, but Oli scored his team’s last five points to stave off a last-minute uprising by Bulacan.
In winning over Bulacan in its knockout duel, St. Benilde earns a quarterfinal round showdown with San Juan.
“We expected it to be down-to-the-wire. We were up by 10 at half time, but I reminded the players that all the three games that we played, they’ve always come back,” said interim coach Paolo Layug of St. Benilde. “They were able to do it again andwe’re fortunate that Matthew were able to hit big shots.”
