After leading by as much as 17, the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas leaned on end-game composure to survive the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, 88-87, in overtime, Friday morning at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The win is first for Perpetual and sent them to an even 1-1 record. Letran, on the other hand, slipped to 0-4. Letran ace Rey Nambatac did not play in the game.
Gab Dagangon came in the clutch for the Las Piñas-based squad with 26 points and seven rebounds, but none bigger than the two shots, first to send the game to overtime, and second, to seal the final score.
On the other hand, Bong Quinto paced the Knights, finishing with 18 markers, most of which he made in his own third-quarter to cut the deficit to four, 48-52.
The Intramuros men finally got the lead in the fourth of a Jerrick Balanza split from the free-throw line, but Dagangon was there to deny Letran a comeback.
A 5-0 run in overtime pushed the Altas to the lead before a Balanza deuce once more put the Knights to the lead.
That turned out to be Letran’s last hurrah, as the senior Dagangon buries a long jumper to put the game for good in the dying minutes.
For head coach Nic Omorogbe the win is very much welcome. “When we started this pre-season, we started right. I am really happy that the guys came out to win,” the former Altas center said.
When asked on how they approached the Letran rallies, Omorogbe remarked, “Actually that’s basketball, it’s all about the mindset. Every time we have the lead, they have to come back; it’s like that. We’ll keep fighting.”
The Altas will try to go for their second win when they face the University of Santo Tomas (0-3) on Sunday, May 21 at 3:15 pm.
On the other hand, the Knights will attempt to arrest their slump when they face the same team on Wednesday, May 31 at the same time.
The Scores:
UPHSD (88) – Dangangon 26, Ylagan 17, Coronel 11, Pido 8, Sadiwa 8, Lucente 8, Casas 5, Singontiko 3, Magalino 2, Clemente 0.
CSJL (87) – Quinto 18, Balanza 17, Gedaria 12, Vacaro 9, Bernabe 8, Caralipio 8, Ambohot 6, Taladua 5, Balagasay 2, De Villa 2, Pamulaklakin 0, Pascual 0, Pambid 0, Mandreza 0.
Quarterscores: 33-18, 49-39, 66-57, 78-78, 88-87
