Oczon, Benilde close in on NCAA Season 99 Final 4 slot

Games Tuesday(Filoil EcoOil Arena)1:30 p.m. — UPHSD vs SSC-R3:30 p.m. — LPU vs San Beda

ALL it took for College of St. Benilde (CSB) gunner Miguel Oczon was one made basket to get something going.

When he did, Mr. Oczon was just unstoppable.

Catching fire right on the nick of time, Mr. Oczon whipped up a fourth quarter storm and pushed the Blazers to a 72-54 victory over the San Juan de Letran University Knights yesterday (Nov. 19) and closer to the NCAA Season 99 Final Four at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Held scoreless in the first half and all but the last 30 seconds of the third quarter, Mr. Oczon rediscovered the groove as he drained a triple late in the period and then followed it up with three more of it in the final canto when CSB hammered in the final nail in Letran’s coffin.

Thanks to Mr. Oczon’s late explosion, the Blazers claimed their 11th win against six defeats and at least a playoff for the last semifinal slot. If CSB could hurdle an already eliminated but prideful Emilio Aguinaldo College in the former’s last elimination-round assignment Wednesday, it will advance to the Final Four and join early entrants Mapua University (14-3) and Lyceum of the Philippines University or LPU (13-4).

There, the Blazers will have a chance to advance to the finals and gain another crack at their second NCAA championship after being denied last year following a finals defeat at the hands of the then three-peat champions Knights.

But on this most recent win, CSB got back at Letran that somehow soothed the pain of last year’s painful memory.

Earlier, LPU smashed Arellano University, 98-86, to claim its 13th win in 17 games and the other twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four.

Both the Knights and Chiefs fell to 2-15. — Joey Villar

The scores

First Game

LPU 98- Guadana 17, Barba 17, Umali 15, Valdez 11, Bravo 9, Montano 6, Penafiel 6, Omandac 6, Villegas 5, Cunanan 3, Moralejo 3, Versoza 0, Aviles 0

AU 86- Talampas 20, Capulong 17, Mallari 14, Sunga 12, Geronimo 6, Yanes 6, Camay 5, Lustina 2, Dela Cruz 2, Ongotan 2, Villerente 0, Dayrit 0, Tan 0, Rosalin 0

Quarterscores: 21-16; 51-44; 80-65; 98-86

Second Game

CSB 72- Corteza 13, Sangco 13, Oczon 12, Gozum 9, Nayve 8, Cajucom 5, Mara 4, Marcos 4, Carlos 2, Turco 2, Arciaga 0, Jarque 0, Davis 0, Marasigan 0

Letran 54- Monje 18, Garupil 8, Cuajao 8, Javillonar 6, Batallier 5, Santos 4, Bojorcelo 3, Jumao-as 2, Bautista 0, Go 0, Ariar 0

Quarterscores: 15-15; 35-33; 59-48; 72-54