Coach Olsen Racela and Perpetual Help in a win over Lyceum in the NCAA Season 100.–NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – JP Boral got going early, but University of Perpetual Help Dalta needed all of its arsenal to beat Lyceum, 89-83, in overtime in the resumption of the NCAA Men’s Season 100 Basketball Tournament on Saturday.
Jearico Nunez used his 6-foot-3 frame to the max and with help from Christian Pagaran and Mark Gojo, Cruz put the Pirates at bay in overtime as the Altas earned a decisive, narrow victory, their sixth overall in 14 games.
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Boral scored 15 of his team-high 18 points in the first half, highlighted by four three-pointers, and Pagaran added 16 points, including a putback with less than a minute left that created the tie and sent the Pirates into a panic.
READ: NCAA: Arellano advances Final Four pursuit with win over Perpetual Help
Pagaran certainly made amends for a botched inbounds pass in regulation time that Mclaude Guadana stole, paving the way for Lyceum to get the ball to the 77th after a Jonathan Daileg corner kick, forcing overtime.
“We knew how important this game was. We really can’t afford to lose if we want to be in the Final Four,” said Pagaran, leader and team skipper of the Altas, in Filipino.
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The Altas’ last game against the Arellano Chiefs did not end well, as they lost six of their last seven games.
While the Altas were in control in the first three quarters, their scoring suddenly failed in the fourth quarter, allowing the Chiefs to come from behind to pull off an amazing victory.
READ: JM Bravo missed at least two games for Final Four hopefuls Lyceum
This time there was no perpetual meltdown. Nunez scored the team’s first five points in overtime before Pagaran helped sustain their effort. Gojo Cruz sealed the Pirates’ fate when the rookie sank four free throws along with Boral’s only free throw to secure the triumph.
Playmaker Renz Villegas hit six three-pointers and finished the game with 23 points, and John Barba scored 17 points off the bench for the Pirates, who suffered another loss after the Chiefs destroyed Lyceum’s front line in the 6th place exactly a week ago -foot-6 JL Capulong had taken advantage.
John Abis paced the Altas with a solid total of 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as they avenged a first-round loss to the Pirates. Lyceum fell to fifth place with a record of 6-7.
The notes:
PERPETUAL HELP 89 – Boral 18, Pagaran 16, Nuñez 15, Abis 12, Gojo Cruz 9, Manuel 7, Pizarro 6, Montemayor 4, Gelsano 2
LYCEUM 83 – Villegas 23, Barba 17, Daileg 10, Guadaña 9, Moralejo 9, Aviles 5, Peñafiel 4, Montaño 3, Versoza 3, Panelo 0, Gordon 0, Pallingayan 0
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Quarter scores: 26-25, 46-45, 64-59, 77-77 (reg.), 89-83 (OT)