The University of Perpetual Help Dalta System (UPHSD) continue to surge after sending Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws down, 70-64, to post their fifth straight victory in the 2015 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
A tight affair between the two squads opened up the first frame. From a six-all knot, the Altas converted baskets inside to get on top with just a point, 12-11, after a Gabriel Dagangon layup with less than three minutes left. From the one-point deficit FEU sprinted to a 9-3 run behind Raymar Jose and Roger Pogoy to end the quarter in their favor, 20-15.
An eight-point, 23-15 lead opened up the second quarter for the Tamaraws after a Monbert Arong triple in the 9:01 mark. UPHSD, not backing down, regained their touch in the offensive end to snatch the upper hand once more, 32-31, after a pair of free throws from Earl Thompson with 2:42 left. The Tamaraws used another run, 8-3, to close out the first half ahead, 39-35.
The Perps were down 45-37 with less than eight minutes into the third quarter after back-to-back baskets from Mike Tolomia and Raymar Jose. But UPHSD, behind baskets from Dagangon, Prince Eze, and Bright Akhuetie, erased FEU’s lead to tie, 45-all, with 3:04 remaining. Akhuetie starred for the Altas in the third quarter, scoring 11 points to help put his team back up, 54-50, heading into the fourth and final canto.
UPHSD furthered the lead to six, 56-50, after another Dagangon layup to open the fourth quarter. FEU managed to claw back, closing within one, 58-57, after a Tolomia three-pointer with less than seven minutes left. The Altas, meanwhile, provided answers to every FEU basket down the stretch, eventually leading 66-59 after a Thompson lay-up in the 4:59 mark. The Tamaraws closed in 66-63 after a pair of made free throws by Russel Escoto, but UPHSD scored four more in the dwindling seconds to stretch their winning streak to five.
“Tiyaga lang talaga ginawa namin,” said UPHSD Head Coach Aric Del Rosario about the team’s fifth straight victory. “Mapa-opensa, mapa-depensa, nagtiyaga lang kami,” he reiterated.
Akhuetie posted a double-double to pace the Altas, leading all scorers with 28 points and grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds. Dagangon had nine points and 11 boards, while Eze added 8 and 10. Tolomia and Escoto led the Tamaraws, now with a 3-3 slate, with 15 points apiece in a losing effort.
The Altas will face Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers next Saturday, May 30, at 11:45 AM. FEU’s next game date will also be on May 30, against Adamson University Soaring Falcons at 1:30 PM.
The Scores:
UPHSD 70 – Akhuetie 28, Dagangon 9, Eze 8, Thompson 6, Elorpe 4, Ylagan 4, Gallardo 3
FEU 64 – Tolomia 15, Escoto 15, Arong 11, Jose 11, Pogoy 6, Orizu 4, Bienes 2
| TEAMS | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH |
| UPHSD (A, 5-0) | 15 | 35 | 54 | 70 |
| FEU (A, 3-3) | 20 | 39 | 50 | 64 |
