LA Casinillo hit the biggest shots for Perpetual Help late in the game as it finally arrested a horror six-game losing streak after taking down the slumping Arellano 65-58 in the NCAA Season 102 tournament on Monday at the Filoil Center in San Juan.
With the game hanging in the balance after a Ernest Geronimo floater tied the game at 58, LA Casinillo hit back-to-back tough baskets for the Altas, the last one a tightly contested lay-up to push the Altas to a 62-58 lead with 58 seconds left in the game.
Mark Gojo Cruz would then hit three of his next four foul shots to put the game away fro the Altas and improve to 3-7, just half a game behind the third-seeded EAC Generals from that dreaded play-in spot.
"I cannot tell you how relieved I am. I think within that losing streak, we never lost hope," Perpetual head coach Olsen Racela said.
"We had to answer and solve a few problems we encountered, especially in the first part of the season. But sinabi ko naman sa kanila na do not lose hope, we just need one win. Now that we're back in our group, this is more for placing e. Big win for us now, but we move on and try to get another one and get as many wins as we can."
Gojo Cruz made a living from the foul line as he made 10 of 11 free throws to pace the Altas with 14 points alongside five boards, while Casinillo chipped in 11 points, six rebounds and two steals.
The Chiefs were still playing without T-Mc Ongotan whose ankle injury turned out to be worse than expected. Anjord Cabotaje led the Chiefs with 16 points while Geronimo added 12 as they dropped to 5-5 after winning just one of their last six games.
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