UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help gave new coach Olsen Racela a fitting welcome in the form of an 82-66 rout of Jose Rizal University on Tuesday in the NCAA Season 100 at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
A third-quarter run was all the Altas needed to break away from the Heavy Bombers after a tight first half that saw both teams tied at 41-all.
The Altas outscored the Heavy Bombers in the middle quarter, 23-15, behind big man John Boral, rookie Mark Gojo Cruz, and Christian Pagaran, who all finished in double figures for Perpetual.
Borjal submitted double-double numbers of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Gojo Cruz, part of the Perpetual Help juniors team that reached the finals last season, had an impressive debut behind his statsline of 15-5-3, and Pagaran added 11 to give Racela his first win as Altas coach.
“We’re still adjusting sa isa’t isa, sa system. Sila sa akin, ako sa kanila, and ako sa liga. I’m just happy na nakuha na namin yung first win and now we move forward after this,” said Racelo, who hurriedly left the venue to join Barangay Ginebra at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium for its PBA Governors’ Cup game against Blackwater later in the night.
It was Gojo Cruz who initiated that game-changing third quarter run as he presided in the Altas’ scoring seven straight points to begin the second half.
The Altas ended the quarter already enjoying a 64-56 cushion, which later reached to as high as 80-60.
The loss by the Heavy Bombers spoiled the all-around game of Joshua Guiab, who finished with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
The scores
Perpetual Help (82) -- Boral 17, Gojo Cruz 15, Pagaran 11, Orgo 7, Pizarro 7, Manuel 7, Gelsano 5, Montemayor 3, Abis 3, Cauguian 3, Nunez 2, Sevilla 2, Javier 0, Danag 0, Movida 0.
Jose Rizal (66) -- Guiab 15, Barrera 10, Pangilinan 8, Lozano 7, Argente 5, Ramos 5, Panapanaan 4, De Leon 4, Samontanes 3, Raymundo 2, Mosqueda 2, Medina 1, Benitez 0, Sarmiento 0, Ferrer 0.
Quarterscores: 20-21; 41-41; 64-56; 82-66.
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