Blazers buck flat start to turn back Stags

MANILA, Philippines — An atrocious start forced St. Benilde coach Paolo Layug to sound the alarm.

The Blazers responded by dominating the second half and snatching a come-from-behind 73-66 victory Monday over the luckless San Sebastian Stags in NCAA Season 102 at the FilOil Center in San Juan City.

It was CSB’s fifth victory in six starts that solidified its grip on the Group A lead.

And that was because the Blazers answered Layug’s wakeup call.

“Nung halftime, sinabihan kami nila coach kulang kami ng effort sa first half,” said CSB’s sweet-shooting guard Alaine Cajucom, who had one of his best performances in his career with 20 points.

“Bumawi lang kami sa second half, gusto lang talaga namin Manalo ngayong game,” he added.

But SSC-R was far from the underdog on this one, at least in the first half when it took a 38-29 lead.

CSB came into the second half a different team and unleashed a series of runs, cutting its nine-point deficit to just three at the end of the third quarter and eventually overtook SSC-R with a decisive run in the final canto.

Cajucom happened to be at the center of it all as he dropped eight of his total points in that period.

For Layug, it was defense that spelled the biggest difference.

“Our defense wasn’t on point in the first half. Thankfully, we were able to get stops in the third and fourth quarters,” he said.

abtestabtest Battling Djokovic stuns top seed Zverev in China Open; Sabalenka swept 12 hours ago Novak Djokovic rolled back the years to oust Alexander Zverev from the China Open, beating the top seed, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, to... Sports Nagoya-Aichi Asian Games: Festival of firsts for Philippines By Nelson Beltran | 18 hours ago  What a fortnight. Sports Thitikul keeps her nerve, survives wild finish to win; Saso, Ardina falter By Jan Veran | 6 hours ago Jeeno Thitikul saw a two-stroke lead disappear in the space of one disastrous hole, watched her closest pursuer suddenly seize... Sports Asian Games set to close after records, rancor and rain 1 day ago The Asian Games in Japan will close Sunday after a fortnight of record-smashing displays from young stars, but marred by mix-ups,... Sports Latest More in Sports Biado, Manas fall short of world doubles 10-ball crown A tale of two athlete moms: Angelica Yulo meets Rovelyn Baterbonia NCRAA, Quezon City fencing up for discussion in PSA Forum FEU's Mangcopa, NU's Pagdulagan stand out in UAAP basketball week abtest Thailand's Jeeno overcomes late wobble to win Lotte Championship 6 hours ago Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul bagged her fourth title of the year with a three-shot victory at the LPGA Tour's Lotte... Sports Messi readies for final farewell in Argentina send-off 6 hours ago Lionel Messi will bring the curtain down on his glittering Argentina career on Tuesday with a farewell friendly against Benin... Sports Smotherman wins maiden PGA Tour title 10 hours ago Journeyman golfer Austin Smotherman claimed the first PGA Tour victory of his career, sealing a two-stroke triumph at... Sports Ronaldo can return to Portugal team if he wants, says coach 12 hours ago Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo can return to the squad if he wishes, despite walking out on his teammates, said national... Sports World No. 1 Rybakina pulls out of Wuhan Open with injury 12 hours ago World No. 1 Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from next week's Wuhan Open with injury, the tennis tournament said on social... Sports Recommended Gatchalian: Impeach verdict possible by November 18 hours ago Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial could wrap up and yield a final verdict as early as next month, Senate... SportsASEANSARA Bank records will pin down VP Sara – prosecution 18 hours ago As the impeachment trial resumes today, the House prosecution panel is banking on a paper trail to pin down Vice President... SportsBANKSARA Warning aired on foreign-funded destabilization 18 hours ago Foreign-funded destabilization plots to undermine or overthrow a sitting administration are not far-fetched, according to... SportsACE Dropping VP bribery charges may be shortchanging Filipinos – Palace 18 hours ago Malacañang yesterday questioned whether the House prosecution panel would be shortchanging the Filipino public if it... SportsCLAIRE CASTRO From cat to lion king From Sebastian to Simba. October 5, 2026 - 12:00am The ongoing impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte has started to look like the Disney movie “The Lion King” where the first King Mufasa is removed from the picture by a scheming, envious Scar who usurps...r SportsSARA DUTERTE next Recommended Gatchalian: Impeach verdict possible by November Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial could wrap up and yield a final verdict as early as next month, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said yesterday. 18 hours ago ASEAN SARA Bank records will pin down VP Sara – prosecution As the impeachment trial resumes today, the House prosecution panel is banking on a paper trail to pin down Vice President Sara Duterte on her alleged P6.7 billion in unexplained assets. 18 hours ago BANK SARA Warning aired on foreign-funded destabilization Foreign-funded destabilization plots to undermine or overthrow a sitting administration are not far-fetched, according to a spokesperson for the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of  Vice President Sara Duterte. 18 hours ago ACE Dropping VP bribery charges may be shortchanging Filipinos – Palace Malacañang yesterday questioned whether the House prosecution panel would be shortchanging the Filipino public if it decides to drop the bribery charges against Vice President Sara Duterte in her ongoing impeachment trial. 18 hours ago CLAIRE CASTRO From cat to lion king From Sebastian to Simba. The ongoing impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte has started to look like the Disney movie “The Lion King” where the first King Mufasa is removed from the picture by a scheming, envious Scar who usurps the throne. 18 hours ago SARA DUTERTE OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!