The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Blazers fell short versus Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 75-80, losing their preseason opener on Saturday, July 23, at the Filoil EcoOil Center, San Juan.
The Blazers showed no rust and got out to a fast start, led by forward Will Gozum, who went on a personal 5-0 run to start the game and finished the quarter scoring 11 of the team's 23 points, giving Benilde a 23-15 lead.
The Blazers committed four consecutive turnovers in the second quarter, which the Falcons capitalized on to take the lead away from the green and white squad. Following a timeout, the team struggled to put the ball through the net, and woes continued to pile on top of the other as guards Ray Carlos and Miguel Oczon were bloodied up due to the extreme physicality brought by Adamson. The Blazers were outscored by 16 points in the quarter, with the Falcons leading by eight points, 34-42.
Determined to turn things around, the Blazers got off to a strong start in the third quarter, driven by forwards Gozum and Miguel Corteza. The deficit was eventually cut to five, 45-50, although the Falcons clawed back to take a 45-58 lead. The Taft squad rallied back, led by team captain Joshua Cajucom after swiping an inbounds play from the Falcons and nailing a corner three to close the quarter only behind by three points, 55-58.
In the final period, despite the Blazers' offensive outpour by both Corteza and guard Frederick Pasturan, who made two three-pointers each, the Blazers had no answers for opposing forwards Wilfrey Magbuhos and Jose Manuel Sabandal, who dropped clutch shot after clutch shot. Turnovers continued to plague the green and white squad in the last two minutes of play, Magbuhos sealed the deal for Adamson with a wide-open three-pointer. The Falcons took the game by a close score of 75-80.
Sabandal was voted player of the game after scoring 18 points on 7/12 shooting, adding four rebounds and one assist to finish with a plus-four efficiency.
The Blazers will take on the University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta (UPHSD) Altas at the Filoil EcoOil Center on Sunday, July 31, with a live telecast on PCCL and FilOil EcoOil Sports.
Box Scores:
DLS-CSB (75) - Corteza 19, Gozum 16, Cullar 9, Pasturan 9, Lim 7, Cajucom 3, Davis 3,
Oczon 3, Jarque 2, Mara 2, Carlos 0, Dimayuga 0, Sangco 0, Sumabat 0
AdU (80) - Sabandal 18, Manzano 12, Lastimosa 9, Maata 9, Magbuhos 9, Flowers 6, Barcelona 4, Torres 4, Barasi 0, Calisay 0, Dignadice 0, Erolon 0, Fuentebella 0, Hanapi 0
Quarter scores: 23-15, 34-42, 55-58, 75-80
