PERPETUAL zoomed to its second straight win in the NCAA Season 102 as it avoided a San Sebastian upset axe by eking out an 86-74 on Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
With the game too close for comfort in the fourth quarter, the Altas buckled down on defense and closed the match with a 13-2 run in the final 3:40 to run away with the victory.
JM Tulabut steered the ship for Perpetual with 18 points and three rebounds, while LA Casinillo stepped up big time with 15 points in the absence of JD Pagulayan who tore his ACL in their previous game against EAC.
"Like I told the team, this team is not, well, we're built to grind out games,” head coach Olsen Racela said.
“Hindi kami built na marami kaming firepower, so we grind out games, we play defense, and it doesn't matter who we play, ganun talaga ang composition ng team namin. So I think the player should realize that.”
Tulabut was instrumental in that 13-2 run, firing six points and grabbing two boards during that stretch while manning the paint effectively for the Altas.
“In first half, hindi talaga, we didn't have that sense of urgency. And I think it showed. I think, kasi linagay namin sa board, actually, ‘defense is the priority.’ And I think, for the most part, hindi yun yung nangyari. The players, the team, was trying to win it on the offensive end," Racela continued.
“So, kaya nung medyo nagka-drought kami, we were not making stops, that's when they made the run,“ he added.
Mark Gojo Cruz also paced the starters with 12 points and six assists as Perpetual earned their second straight win to improve to 2-1.
Neil Castor finished with 17 points for the Stags, as they fell to 0-3.
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