From The Wires
San Beda University torched DKI Jakarta with a massive second half eruption to complete a decisive 89-43 win in the 2024 ANTA Asiabasket International Championship on Tuesday at Enderun Colleges in BGC, Taguig.
And the Red Lions did so despite missing key players in Yukien Andrada and Jommel Puno, leaning on new recruits JC Bonzalida, Albert Lopez, and Lawrence Hawkins as they cruised to a 1-0 start in Group B while sending the Indonesians to a 0-1 slate.
Bonzalida, who was part of Adamson University’s high school team that ended the school’s 13-year UAAP juniors basketball title drought last February by beating National University, seemed at home with his new squad after pouring in 11 points alongside two assists and two rebounds.
Bonzalida atoned for a scoreless first half showing, detonating in the second half by powering a 22-0 blast to open the fourth where he churned out six of his overall output.
Lopez, a product of San Beda high school, was crucial in their second half pull-away, scoring five straight points to bring them to a 61-34 cushion in the third. He tallied 11 markers as well together with three boards, two assists, and a steal.
San Beda’s dominance didn’t allow DKI Jakarta to convert any field goal in the fourth until the 3:10 mark, when Michael Pang scored on a putback, 85-38. That, however, was not enough to rally the visitors as San Beda never relinquished its lead en route to the 46-point rout.
No player from Jakarta reached double digit scoring with Almando Bait leading them with eight points while Refka Pangetsu and Pang each chipped in six markers.
In the first game, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde likewise picked up a huge victory after escaping another visitor, National Formosa University-Taiwan, 92-79, to take an early Group A lead at 1-0.
Transferee Ian Torres proved his worth for the Blazers, shining with a team-high 20 points on top of two rebounds, six assists, and one steal while Justine Sanchez and Allen Liwag supplied the help with 14 and 13 points apiece.
NFU staged a third quarter fightback, outscoring the Blazers 23 to 18, to close the gap to just seven after trailing by as much as 14 before heading to the payoff period, 69-62.
But the young Torres caught fire, burying eight points in the period, including a huge three-pointer to send Benilde to an 83-79 lead before the team took care of business the rest of the way.
Benilde was able to hold off Shun-Ka Ko, who detonated for 16 points to pace the Taiwanese team while Jordhan Michael Johnson was a force on both ends with 15 markers, six rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
In other games, Adamson pulled off an 81-67 victory against Mapua University behind AJ Fransman, Matt Erolon, and Renzo Competente while National University made easy work against Phenom Blue Fire, 80-65, to kick their respective campaigns on a high note.
THE SCORES:
FIRST GAME:
Benilde Blazers (92) – Torres 20, Sanchez 14, Liwag 13, Cajucom 13, Morales 9, Jarque 7, Ondoa 6, Ynot 6, Jalalon 2, Eusebio 2, Oli 0, Turco 0, Serrano 0.
National Formosa University (79) – Ko 16, Johnson 15, Nchekwube 13, Wang 11, Yeh 10, Lin 8, Tseng 3, Lee 2, Liu 1, Shen 0, Lai 0, Wei 0.
SECOND GAME:
Adamson (81) – Fransman 13, Erolon 12, Calisay 10, Compietientie 10, Anabo 9, Cañete 7, Nepe 6, Gaye 5, Pacquiao 3, Manzon 2, Torres 2, Ojarikre 2.
Mapua (67) – Jabonete 17, Cuenco 9, Hubilla 8, Escamis 7, Agemenyi 7, Concepcion 6, Mangubat 4, Fornis 3, Igliane 3, Fermin 3, Abdulla 0, Garcia 0, Panteleon 0, Pabilona 0.
THIRD GAME:
San Beda (89) – Lopez 11, Bonzalida 11, Hawkins 10, Tagle 9, Estacio 8, Jalbuena 8, Songcuya 7, Culdora 6, Calimag 5, Etulle 5, Jamora 3, Sajonia 2, Gonzales 2, Payosing 2, Sollano 0, Tagala 0.
DKI Jakarta (43) – Bait 8, Pangestu 6, Pang 6, Irawan 5, Tarigan 5, Azzuri 3, Benyamin 2, Mulia 2, Hafizh 2, Abuthan 2, Dawe 2, Ilzar 0, Nathanael 0, Syamil 0.
FOURTH GAME:
NU (80) – Santiago 11, John 10, Yu 8, Manansala 7, Jumamoy 7, Garcia 6, Diassana 6, Figueroa 6, Palacielo 6, Lim 5, Enriquez 4, Parks 2, Padrones 2, De Leon 0, Francisco 0, Reyes 0, Perciano 0.
Phenom Blue Fire (65) – Alao 14, Navarro 12, Mara 11, Despi 9, Osang 7, Manzano 3, Gaspay 2, Jucom 2, Nwankwo 2, Daja 2, Moumbagna 1, Taparco 0, Nablo 0.
