UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help escaped past hard-luck Arellano University, 69-67, in a thrilling finish last Friday in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
The Altas lost a 12-point lead late in the third period and found themselves trailing, 62-65, as the Chiefs played a small ball rotation in the final quarter.
But they kept their composure and clustered together six unanswered points, highlighted by a clutch three pointer by John Boral to regain the upper hand, 68-65, with 46 seconds remaining.
Perpetual won its second straight game to take a share of the early lead together with San Sebastian and College of St. Benilde.
“Ang ganda ng ginawa ni coach Chico (Manabat) going small, tapos humabol sila. We thought we had the game under control,” admitted winning coach Olsen Racela. “Pati mga players nagulat din. But in the end, composure na lang yun.”
Rookie Mark Gojo Cruz again played like a grizzled veteran with 20 points, three rebounds, two assists, and three steals to pace the Altas, while Boral added 11 and four rebounds.
The Altas also shot 10-of-26 from beyond the arc including four from Gojo Cruz and two by Boral.
Still, credit Arellano as it went down with a lot of fight.
The Chiefs had the Altas on the ropes until the dying seconds as Greg Borromeo scored on a floater to threaten at 68-67.
They even had a shot at winning the game with 3.2 seconds when Cyril Hernal was fouled while going strong to the basket.
Unfortunately, Hernal bungled both free throws as Arellano suffered its second straight loss.
“I’m expecting this kind of game dito sa NCAA. Lahat ng games ganito kaya kailangan we have to grind out a win,” added Racela.
The scores
Perpetual Help 69 – Gojo Cruz 20, Boral 11, Pagaran 10, Orgo 8, Gelsano 7, Abis 7, Manuel 3, Pizarro 2, Nunez 1, Montemayor 0.
Arellano 67 – Camay 12, Hernal 10, Borromeo 8, Vinoya 8, Ongotan 6, Abiera 6, Geronimo 5, Valencia 4, Capulong 4, Miller 2, Dela Cruz 2, Acop 0, De Leon 0, Espiritu 0, Estacio 0.
Quarters: 17-16; 37-33; 57-45; 69-67.
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