University of Perpetual Help System DALTA managed to erase a 19-point deficit to stave off Colegio de San Juan de Letran and extend the series to a deciding third game, 91-90, in the NCAA Season 99 Juniors Basketball Finals on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Jan Pagulayan led all scorers with 23 points, half of which came from beyond the arc while copping 10 rebounds to complete his double-double outing for Perpetual.
Additionally, newly-crowned season MVP Amiel Acido proved he deserved his award, dropping 19 markers and bagging four steals for the Junior Altas
On the other hand, June Silorio led the Squires in scoring with 20 points while George Diamante posted a double-double of 18 markers and 15 caroms.
Game 3 of the finals is on March 23 at 9:30 AM, still at the same San Juan venue.
“It [wasn’t] a walk in the park, it’s just a blessing today na nakuha namin ‘tong win na ‘to,” said head coach Joph Cleopas after the back-breaking match.
“Masaya po ako ngayon kasi nakuha namin game two at sana ganoon rin sa game three at sana makuha rin namin,” said Pagulayan, with a bandage on his cheek after a late-game incident with Alex Gazzingan.
In a high-scoring first period, Letran got off to a strong start with the help of newly-minted Mythical Team member George Diamante, as the Squires combined for 34 points to take a six-point advantage.
Their momentum would eventually extend to the second quarter, with Daniel Padilla knocking down a corner triple to extend Letran’s lead to 19 points, 57-38, with three minutes left in the half.
However, a quick burst by Perpetual, sparked by a Zek Valencia triple, allowed the Junior Altas to close the gap to single digits at the end of the first half, 59-50.
Fresh off the break, Perpetual immediately continued on their 21-2 run, with Season 99 MVP Amiel Acido hitting a crucial three-pointer before Jhames Daep’s free-throw tied the game at 59-all.
From thereon, it was a dogfight with neither side giving way in the back-and-forth affair. Perpetual finally broke through and regained their first lead since the opening period with a Daep jumper to go up 77-75 midway through the fourth quarter.
However, Letran quickly retaliated and led by as much as five with three minutes left. Down by two with fifty ticks left, Acido came up huge with a clutch bomb from beyond the arc to regain the lead, 91-90.
A technical free-throw right after by Gazzingan hit back iron, while a final chance for the Squires to take the championship ended up fruitless.
With five seconds left, Silorio was awarded two charities, but to Letran’s dismay, both failed to drop as the Junior Altas took Game Two.
The Scores:
Perpetual 91 – Pagulayan 20, Acido 19, Gojo Cruz 16, Daep 13, Diaz 5, Borja 5, Valencia 3, Callangan 3, Roluna 2, Ayon 0, Asuncion 0
Letran 90 – Silorio 20, Diamante 18, Padilla 17, Manalili 12, Baliling 11, Gazzingan 5, Navarro 3, Cruz 2, Golez 2, Villanueva 0, Reyes 0, Hugo 0
Quarterscores: 28-34; 50-59; 73-75; 91-90
