University of Perpetual Help System DALTA’s final four hopes are still alive after it upset College of St. Benilde, 89-83, Friday in the NCAA Season 98 Seniors Basketball Tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Altas improved to 6-9, while the Blazers remain in the two spot with 1-4.
Coming off a timeout, Jeff Eghan tried to inbound but committed a five-second violation. CSB’s Migs Oczon then tried to convert a three-point shot but missed as Eghan fouled him with 9.9 left in the contest.
Down by six, 82-88, with 9.9-ticks left, Oczon shot only one of three throws, cutting the deficit to five, 83-88. However, that was the closest the Blazers could get.
Prince Carlos then passed an inbound to Oczon in the corner. Oczon tried to claw back as he attempted a corner triple but it missed with 5.1 seconds left in the game.
Mark Omega rebounded the ball, but was fouled by Will Gozum with 2.7 left. Omega got two freebies but split them, getting the 83-89 advantage. He rebounded his missed free throw to end the game with a win.
“Before going to this game against CSB, di kami nag-ensayo eh. Nag-usap muna kami kung ano ba talaga problema, kaso ‘yung mga players pala ang madaming frustration. Madaming iniisip, madaming gumugulo,” said Altas head coach Myk Saguiguit.
“And after nung usapan namin na yon, gumanda ‘yung ensayo namin. Kumbaga nailabas nila ‘yung mga dumi dito sa isip nila. [I] hope mag-continue itong panalo na ‘to,” he added.
Up by six, 19-25, in the second quarter, the Altas used a 14-2 run capped by a John Abis layup to get the biggest lead by 18, 39-21, at the 6:24 mark.
Still, the Blazers were able to claw back by six, 44-49, in the third quarter by a Miggy Corteza split free throw at the 9:18 mark.
Egan fouled out in the fourth quarter due to a pushing foul on Oczon with 9.9 left in the clock.
Carlo Ferreras led the Altas with 19 points on 7-of-9 two-point shooting from the floor, along with four rebounds and two assists. Flores scored 18 points and seven rebounds.
Abis, meanwhile, finished with a triple-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and a block. It’s the first triple-double in the league since August 25, 2018 or when Bong Quinto tallied 11 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds against EAC.
On the other hand, Oczon paced the Blazers with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field that all went for naught. He also had four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Gozum produced 13 points, alongside six rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block.
Robi Nayve and JC Cullar both added 10 points each as well.
Next up for Perpetual is Jose Rizal University on Sunday at 12:00 NN. On the other hand, Benilde will look to bounce back against San Sebastian College-Recoletos on Tuesday, at the same time.
The Scores:
Perpetual 89 — Ferreras 19, Flores 18, Abis 13, Egan 8, Barcuma 8, Roque 8, Martel 6, Cuevas 5, Omega 4, Boral 0.
St. Benilde 83 — Oczon 22, Gozum 13, Cullar 10, Nayve 10, Corteza 9, Pasturan 8, Marcos 6, Sumabat 5, Davis 0, Carlos 0, Lim 0.
Quarterscores: 23-14, 49-40, 68-59, 89-83.
