PERPETUAL Help returned to the NCAA Season 100 Juniors basketball tournament finals after eliminating San Beda, 96-87, in the semifinals on Monday at the Filoil Ecooil Center in San Juan.
Trailing against the Red Cubs in the early goings of the game, Dan Rosales and Jan Roluna powered their 30-point second quarter to turn the tide around and take control of the game for good.
The Junior Altas led by as many as 17 points early in the fourth quarter and never looked back to book the first finals seat in the tournament, and move two wins away from completing what they missed out on last year when they finished as bridesmaids to the Letran Squires.
Rosales led the way with 19 points and six rebounds while Roluna chipped in 15 points and three steals in the win.
Second-ranked high school player in the country LeBron Jhames Daep was quiet offensively but he more than made up for it with his presence in the paint by finishing with 10 boards, four assists, two steals and a block to go along with his nine markers.
Francis Dolente led the Red Cubs with 15 points.
Greenies Shock Squires In OT
Whether the Junior Altas get to face their old tormentor in the Squires, or a new challenger to the crown in the Greenies will still be determined after a depleted La Salle Greenhills stunned Letran in overtime, 78-74, in the other semis pairing.
Playing without head coach Renren Ritualo and star guard Guillian Quines, both serving one-game suspensions following ejections in their final elimination round game, the Greenies turned to Gian Gomez and Arle Podador who were more than up to the task to deliver.
Gomez drained the go-ahead basket to give the Greenies a 76-74 lead with 55 seconds left, before Podador made up for missing two free throws which would've won them the game in regulation by sinking his two freebies with five seconds left in overtime to formally put the game away.
Podador finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and five steals while Gomez chipped in 18 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The loss spoiled Danie Padilla's 30-point night as turnovers turned out to be the Knights' bane with Padilla having six of their 30 miscues which led to their own undoing.
Letran gets another shot at keeping its three-peat hopes alive when it tackles La Salle Greenhills once more in a win-or-go-home game this Wednesday at the Filoil Ecooil Center.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
