University of Perpetual Help finally snapped a three-game slide with a 72-57 drubbing of Lyceum in the NCAA Season 101 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 23, at the San Juan Arena.
Mark Gojo Cruz led Perpetual’s well-balanced attack as the Altas tallied a 9-4 record in Group A.
The troika of John Abis, JP Boral and Juan Tulabut all scored 9 points each in the win.
The win gave Altas a winning feeling going into the quarterfinals aside the twice-to-beat incentive they will enjoy for topping their group elims.
“I told them to treat this game like a Playoffs game and I told them to know what we’re preparing for and I think they did that in this game,” coach Olsen Racela said. “We had time to work on what we need to improve. We were hitting shots but more importantly, we were moving the ball.”
The Altas will be watching Tuesday’s double-header intently as Jose Rizal University and Emilio Aguinaldo College duke it out for Group B’s last bus ticket to the quarters.
Lyceum will take on San Sebastian (3-10) in the play-in for Group A’s fourth seed, also on Tuesday. Should the Pirates win, they will take on San Beda in the quarters. The scores:
UPHSD 72 – Gojo Cruz 10, Abis 9, Boral 9, Tulabut 9, Casinillo 8, Duremdes 6, Alcantara 6, Nunez 5, Sleat 5, Orgo 3, Maglupay 2, Roluna 0, Magdangal 0, Gelsano 0, Borja 0.
LPU 57 – Barba 13, Montano 8, Penafiel 8, Aurigue 6, Daileg 5, Pallingayan 5, Villegas 4, Moralejo 4, Versoza 3, Casino 1, Paulo 0, Abregana 0, Matienzo 0,Aviles 0, Reyes 0.
