Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — College of St. Benilde got a taste of its first win in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) by repulsing the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), 73-66, at The Arena in San Juan on Tuesday (July 7).
Jonathan Grey finished with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals for the Blazers, who snapped a two-game losing skid.
Grey, who is now taking over a Benilde side which lost key cogs Paolo Taha and Mark Romero to the pros, nailed a dagger of a triple in the final minute to put the lead back to double digits, 71-61.
Resilient, the Generals scored five more points after that but time was not on their side.
Benilde took control in the first quarter and quelled repeated runs by the Generals from there.
In the second game, Perpetual Help Altas escaped past Mapua Cardinals, 82-79.
By racking up their third straight victory, the Altas seized solo lead in the NCAA (3-0).
Scottie Thompson, Bright Akhuetie, and Gabriel Dagangon took charge in the final minute.
Thompson, the reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP), was a point shy of a triple double performance. He finished with nine points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, including one to Dagangon with 30.7 left to put Perpetual on top for good, 80-79.
