AsiaBasket: CSB continues climb, Ateneo repulses Sanzar

The 2023 Bola.TV AsiaBasket Las Pinas Championship began its semifinal at the Villar Coliseum on Friday, July 28, with College of St. Benilde (CSB) continuing its miracle run in do-or-die games.

Starting the tournament with three straight losses, The Blazers have now won three consecutive do-or-die games, including a 76-70 decision against Corsa in their knockout semifinal game on Friday night.

Seeking a repeat of their elimination round win, Corsa tried to pull away from CSB after going on a 7-0 run midway through the first period to take a 20-13 lead with 2:23 remaining.

CSB kept the game close and even took the lead in the second quarter. The team entered halftime ahead, 37-36.

CSB then began its own breakaway attempt early in the third quarter, starting the period on a 12-2 run for a 49-38 lead with six and a half minutes left.

Robi Nayve then came to work, scoring four straight free throws and a layup to put CSB back up, 73-68, with 40 seconds to go.

Tony Ynot kept Corsa in the game with a layup of his own with 30 seconds left, but Felipe Marasigan drained the dagger corner three with 7.7 seconds remaining that sealed CSB’s win.

Nayve, Will Gozum, and Migs Oczon each scored 13 points for CSB, which will face Ateneo in the Sunday final.

Gerald Anderson tallied 17 points, while Ynot and Justine Sanchez had 15 and 14 points respectively.

In the second game, the Ateneo Blue Eagles routed Sanzar Pharmaceuticals, 89-79.

Ateneo caught fire early on and led by 16, 28-12, with a little over two minutes left in the first quarter before ending the period with a 31-19 advantage.

Kai Ballungay led Ateneo with 17 points, six rebounds and an assist.

Mason Amos, who helped set up the team’s early blast, added 16 points, going 5-for-7 from the field including 3-of-4 on threes, two rebounds, and two assists.

Raoul Odou tallied 17 points, Yuki Kawamura added 15, Ian Torres and Roger Ondoa each scored 13, and Salomon Kone had 11 with 12 rebounds for Sanzar, which will play Corsa Tires in the third place game also on Sunday.

Scores:
First Game
CSB 76 – Gozum 13, Oczon 13, Nayve 13, Carlos 12, Turco 7, Sangco 6, Jarque 4, Marasigan 3, Arciaga 3, Mara 2, Cajucom 0, Flores 0

Corsa 70 – Anderson 17, Ynot 15, Sanchez 14, Estacio 12, Ndong 10, Pagulayan 2, Macatangay 0, Cunanan 0, Acosta 0, Ortega 0, Lepalam 0

Quarterscores: 19-22, 37-36, 60-53, 76-70

Second Game
Ateneo 89 – Ballungay 17, Amos 16, Obasa 14, Chiu 11, Espinosa 9, Nwabude 6, Tuano 4, Quitevis 4, Koon 3, Celis 3, Credo 2, Nieto 0, Gomez 0, Ong 0

Sanzar 79 – Odou 17, Kawamura 15, Torres 13, Ondoa 13, Kone 11, Famaranco 7, Obuyes 3, Jolangcob 0, Villapando 0, Abaoag 0, Mailim 0, Bitoy 0

Quarterscores: 31-19, 53-36, 70-62, 89-79