The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas came out with guns blazing as the Las Pinas-based squad pounced on a cold Arellano University Chiefs squad, 80-72, to take solo lead in Group A of the 2016 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.
Nigerian student-athlete Bright Akhuetie again led the Altas with 19 points and 13 rebounds off the bench. Gab Dagangon and GJ Ylagan scored 14 markers apiece, with the former grabbing nine boards and knocking down two triples in his statline.
“He is just coming into shape. He’s a little bit banged up right now playing in the PCBL. He’s doing pretty good this season,” Perpetual head coach Nic Omorogbe said about Akhuetie. “Without a doubt, he is the best player in the NCAA. We just told him to get the other guys involved.”
After a close first quarter, the Altas were able to break away in the second stanza behind Dagangon’s perfect 3-for-3 shooting from the field for ten points. Foreign student-athletes Akhuetie and Prince Eze combined for 16 points, seven boards, and four blocks in the first half to gain a 44-30 lead at the break.
The Chiefs were able to cut the lead to single-digits, 61-53, in the third canto behind the trio of Jio Jalalon, Kent Salado, and Dioncee Holts. However, the Altas went on a 10-0 rally through AJ Coronel, with Jalalon and Salado on the bench, for a 71-53 lead.
Jalalon and Salado returned to the game at the 7:18 mark of the final quarter and were able to cut the lead to just 12, 73-61. Akhuetie though stopped the Chiefs rally as he pounded his way in the paint to keep the lead at 19, 80-61, with 3:41 remaining. Arellano were able to hold the Altas scoreless afterwards, but the lead was too large as it gave the Altas their fourth win in as many games.
“Actually, the guys came out ready. We didn’t do much,” Omorogbe added. “We just made them realize that to be an elite team, they are one of the teams that we need to beat badly.”
Salado had 15 points in the game and added five boards, four dimes, and four steals in the loss. He was 5-or-10 from the field but was just 9-for-5 from the foul line. Jalalon added 13 points, three boards, four assists, and two steals.
The Altas shot 50 percent from the field compared to just 37 percent for the Chiefs. Moreover, Perpetual out-rebounded Arellano 47-33.
The Perpetual Altas (A, 4-0) will try to continue their streak on Friday, May 20 as they face the FEU Tamaraws at 3:15pm. On the other hand, the Arellano Chiefs (A, 3-1) look to bounce back on the same day as they face the San Sebastian Stags on the same day at 1:30pm.
The Scores:
UPHSD (80) – Akhuetie 19, Dagangon 14, Ylagan 14, Singontiko 9, Coronel 8, Eze 8, Pido 3, Sadiwa 2, Yuhico 2, Dizon 1, Lucente 0, Hao 0.
AU (72) – Salado 15, Jalalon 13, Holts 10, Enriquez 9, Villoria 5, Nicholls 4, Gupilan 4, Abanes 3, Meca 2, Gumaru 2, Canete 2, Flores 2, Alcoriza 1, Cadavis 0, Rivera 0, Ongolo-ongolo 0, Aguilar 0.
Quarterscores: 24-16, 44-30, 61-53, 80-72.
