PERPETUAL Help wasted an early 14-point lead but held on to beat Diliman College-Gerry's Grill, 71-65, to enter the win column in the 2019 PBA D-League on Tuesday at Paco Arena in Manila.
Jefner Egan powered the Altas to the breakthrough win after two losses, scoring 25 points and making three rebounds.
Tonton Peralta chipped in 13 points and four boards off the bench, while Jielo Razon added 12 points, six rebounds and four assists for Perpetual.
The Altas jumped to a 17-4 advantage before extending it to 14 points, 38-24 at halftime.
But the Blue Dragons battled back, using a 26-point third quarter attack to tie the game at 50 entering the fourth.
Razon gave the Las Pinas crew a 62-61 lead with a triple at the 4:09 mark, before Peralta and Egan did their damage to score the hard-fought win and improve to 1-2 in the Foundation Group.
"I thought we did very well in the first half because of our defense and I think that propelled us in our offense. But in the third quarter, it was a simple collapse on our part," said coach Frankie Lim.
"Bago lang itong ginagawa namin eh. It's about them believing in what we’re doing. I think I sold it to them very well naman."
Perpetual took advantage of Diliman-Gerry's 19 turnovers, turning those to 17 points.
Beninese big man Kevin Gandjeto had 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Jeramer Cabanag had 17 points and seven boards as Diliman College fell to 1-2.
The scores:
Perpetual Help 71 - Egan 25, Peralta 13, Razon 12, Charcos 8, Adamos 6, Solis 4, Lanoy 2, Pasia 1, Sese 0, Tamayo 0, Pido 0, Martel 0, Guissani 0.
Diliman College 65 - Gandjeto 20, Cabanag 17, Bauzon 8, Brutas 7, Torrado 4, Mahari 4, Darang 3, Balagtas 2, Salazar 0, Bonsubre 0, Melendez 0, Coquia 0.
Quarterscores: 19-10, 38-24, 50-50, 71-65.
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