UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help finally ended a long slide by sending Letran to a downward spiral.
The Altas got off to a hot start and kept the momentum going all game long for a 71-61 win over the Knights in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Sunday.
Christian Pagaran finished with 19 points on the strength of four three-pointers, while rookie guard Mark Gojo Cruz was 3-of-4 from long-distance to add 15 and six rebounds in the win that put a halt to the Altas’ four-game losing run.
Perpetual made it back to the .500 mark at 5-5.
Incidentally, the Altas’ skid began when they absorbed an 82-73 overtime loss against Letran in their first meeting last Sept 28.
“Sa Letran ang start ng losing streak namin, four games. Sana sa Letran din ang start ng win streak,” quipped Altas coach Olsen Racela before immediately excusing himself, as he had to rush ahead to Dasmarinas, Cavite for Game 3 of the PBA Governors' Cup semifinals between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel.
The Knights have now lost two in a row to start the second round and fell to a 6-5 record.
Amidst back-to-back losses, Letran also lost shooting guard Jimboy Estrada late in the game after incurring two technical fouls for an outright ejection. He is now ineligible for individual awards.
Until his disqualification, Estrada was close to posting a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
The scores:
PERPETUAL 71 – Pagaran 19, Gojo Cruz 15, Abis 8, Orgo 8, Pizarro 6, Boral 5, Manuel 4, Montemayor 3, Gelsano 2, Nuñez 1.
LETRAN 61 - Estrada 14, Montecillo 11, Santos 10, Cuajao 8, Monje 7, Javillonar 4, Delfino 3, Nunag 2, Go 2, Miller 0, Baliling 0, Tagotongan 0.
Quarters: 22-13; 41-31; 59-48; 71-61.
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