University of Perpetual Help System Dalta snapped its two-game slump in style, smothering Centro Escolar University with a 93-72 blowout in the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Altas took the fight out of the Scorpions from the get-go behind a 25-10 start and never looked back for a strong rebound that pushed them back on track in the heated playoff race.
Perpetual, which started 2-0 before losing two in a row, moved to 3-2 for a solo third spot behind leaders Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda (4-1) and EcoOil-La Salle (3-1) to stay in the hunt for a Top-2 finish that comes with an outright semifinal berth.
“It’s a badly needed win for us. Kasi itong CEU, tapos Letran, ‘yung mga kapuwestuhan namin so far. Inayos lang namin ‘yung mistakes namin from our two losses at ito, we got the win against CEU,” said coach Myk Saguiguit.
Four players tallied twin digits led by Arthur Roque and Cyrus Nitura with 17 points apiece as Perpetual led by as big as 24 points. Roque added five rebounds and two steals with Nitura lacing his output with six boards, eight assists, a steal, and a block.
Carlo Ferreras threw in 16 points while skipper Jielo Razon racked up 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals in the Altas’ scattered onslaught.
Perpetual started like a house on fire for a 28-15 opening salvo but the Scorpions swung back to trim the deficit to 34-43 at the half.
Then, the Altas broke free as they unloaded a 23-9 spurt to start the third for a commanding 66-43 upperhand that they never relinquished heading home.
Dave Bernabe, Mark Anthony Anabogu, and Ayodeji Victor Balogun put up 14, 11, and 10 points, respectively, in a foiled bid for the Scorpions, who tripped to 2-2 for a tie at No. 4 with first-game winner Letran.
The Scores:
Perpetual 93 – Roque 17, Nitura 17, Ferreras 16, Razon 13, Ramirez 8, Movida 7, Boral 6, Abis 6, Pagaran 2, Cuevas 1, Orgo 0, Barcoma 0, Sevilla 0, Nunez, Omega 0.
CEU 72 – Bernabe 14, Anagbogu 11, Balogun 10, Santos 7, Diaz 6, Puray 6, Ferrer 5, Malicana 5, Tolentino 4, Reyes 2, Borromeo 2, Cabotaje 0, Javier 0, Peñano 0, Joson 0.
Quarterscores: 28-15, 43-34, 71-51, 93-72.
