CSB Blazers defeat Holy Trinity Wildcats in a contentious match

CSB defeats HTC in a contentious match

by rick olivares

The College of Saint Benilde Blazers evened their Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup record to 2-2 after defeating Holy Trinity College, 106-92, at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City last Sunday.

The game was marred by the antics of the HTC Wildcats who in the game’s last four minutes played matador defense and simply allowed CSB to waltz in unopposed to the basket.

The game, that saw eight lead changes and three deadlocks, took a nasty turn late in the third period when the Wildcats’ forward-center Kevin Pragados shoulder-blocked the Blazers’ Mark Romero who did not appreciate the unnecessary rough play. Romero confronted Pragados and left him with a few choice words. 

Several minutes later, CSB’s Jonathan Grey was whacked in the face by HTC’s Rafael Lape while driving to the basket for a fastbreak opportunity. When Pragados was whistled for his fifth foul a minute after, HTC vociferously complained earning a warning from the referees.

At that point, the Wildcats stopped playing defense and allowed CSB to lay the ball in as if they were in a lay-up line. That drew the ire of Benilde team officials who were angry at the mockery being made of the game. 

The game clock was allowed to run out even if HTC that slumped to a 0-3 record in the Filoil tournament had one more possession. The traditional post-game handshake between the two teams was dispensed with when HTC quickly left the Gatorade Hoops Center. 

“We regret what happened during that game,” apologized HTC head coach Pol Torrijos the day after the match. “The boys were just frustrated by the calls and it affected them. We would like to apologize to the College of Saint Benilde as well as to the league. It will not happen again.”

CSB 106 – Grey 32, Romero 19, Bartolo 13, Ongteco 8, Nayve 7, Argamino 6, Saavedra 5, Altamirano 5, Rivero 5, Sinco 2, Mercado 2, Flores 2, Pajarillaga 0, Johnson 0, Lopeña 0.

HTC 92 – Masaglang 23, Lape 18, Landicho 13, Yusop 11, Pepito 7, Batiller 6, Mahaling 6, Roxas 4, Etoundi 2, Pragados 2, Politico 0, Desaville 0.