ONGOTAN’S CAREER-HIGH PROPELS ARELLANO PAST STREAKY BENILDE
ARELLANO barged back to the win column after absorbing a loss at the hands of Emilio Aguinaldo College two days ago.
On Sunday, the Chiefs not only won their third game of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament but they also did it at the expense of Group B juggernaut College of St. Benilde.
Prior to the week-ending game day, the Blazers were riding on a three-game win streak before Arellano snapped their run with a 72-67 squeaker at San Juan Arena.
T-Mc Ongotan paced the Chiefs’ win with a career-high 28 points with four steals and three rebounds to match. He also delivered the goods for the Chiefs when it mattered most.
“Siguro pinagtrabahuhan ko talaga nung offseason tapos wala pa si (JL) Capulong sa’min,” the shifty guard said.
“Do’n ako kumukuha ng motivation na magstep-up talaga at maging leader this season.”
When Arellano led the Blazers, 69-65, in the dying minutes of the game, Benilde big man Shawn Umali sank a short-stab to inch closer to the Chiefs, 69-67, with 2:07 to go in the fourth quarter.
Ongotan would then take matters into his own hands, converting a bucket plus a foul to pull the Chiefs away for good, 72-67, with 32 ticks left in the payoff period.
Helping Ongotan on the Arellano offense was Sebastian Valencia, who finished with nine points, five rebounds, two assists and a block to fuel the Chiefs to a 3-3 card in Group A.
Benilde tripped to a 3-2 card in Group B but not without the efforts of former San Beda trio Justine Sanchez, Tony Ynot and Gab Cometa, who scattered 16, 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The scores:
AU (72) – Ongotan 28, Valencia 9, Camay 7, Vinoya 6, Geronimo 6, Abiera 6,
Cabotaje 5, Libang 5, Borromeo 0, Buenaventura 0, Hernal 0, Anama 0.
CSB (67) – Sanchez 16, Ynot 13, Cometa 12, Umali 12, Gaspay 4, Galas 4, Oli 2, Torres 2, Eusebio 2, Celis 0, Ancheta 0, Morales 0, Moore 0, Cajucom 0.
Quarterscores: 17-15, 45-39, 62-57, 72-67.