Liwag takes over as Blazers stymie Generals

MANILA, Philippines — The Benilde Blazers are heading to the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball quarterfinals on a roll with an 87-82 victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Allen Liwag, who missed Benilde’s three games, stood tall for the Blazers, who won three straight and finished the elimination round with a 9-4 win-loss record.

The reigning season Most Valuable Player finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, while Matthew Oli had 14 markers off the bench. Jio Gonzaga chipped in 12.

EAC led by as much as 11 points, 63-52, with about 2:32 remaining in the third quarter after a layup by Aldeo Lucero.

But a 13-4 run capped by a triple by Jose Eusebio sliced the deficit to two, 65-67, heading into the fourth quarter.

And in the fourth, the Blazers broke the game open, turning that disadvantage to a 79-71 edge with 4:33 remaining after a deuce by Liwag.

EAC was able to make it a three-point game with a pair of free throws by Jude Bagay, 80-83, but finishing touches by Oli and Gonzaga iced the contest.

SJ Moore and Anton Eusebio had nine markers apiece for the winning squad.

Bagay powered EAC with 25 points, while Lucero had 20 in the losing effort.

Benilde thus finished the elimination round with a 9-4 slate, while EAC, which will try to make it to the quarterfinals through the play-in, ended the elims with a 4-9 card.

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