By: Miguel Caramoan
With contributions across the board, the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA halted their three-game losing streak to close the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Group Phase with a 72-57 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Altas closed the eliminations with a 9-4 record, having already secured the top spot in Group A before this win.
They now await the winner of the Group B play-in game between the JRU Heavy Bombers and EAC Generals for their quarterfinal matchup on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“I’m happy for the community, for the supporters, for the alumni, and the players. Pero hindi pa, it’s not about how you start, it’s how you end,” Altas head coach Olsen Racela said about Perpetual finishing atop Group A.
“It’s good na may marka or may na-acheive kami konti, but we’re after a bigger prize.”
Mark Gojo Cruz led Perpetual with 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. John Abis, JB Boral, and JM Tulabut each contributed nine points to help secure the win.
“Malaking bagay yung bench namin because we need all the help we can get against the powerhouse teams na down to the bench na malakas ang lineup. I hope that this game will help us for their confidence and matulungan kami going to the playoffs,” Racela added, highlighting the importance of his team’s bench support.
The Altas started strong, racing to an 8-0 lead at the 5:42 mark of the first quarter and ending the period ahead 21-9. They maintained a double-digit advantage at halftime, 37-27, powered by balanced scoring led by Gojo Cruz’s six points.
The lead extended further in the fourth quarter, reaching 70-47 with 5:55 left after a basket from JM Tulabut, effectively putting the game out of reach.
“Yun yung focus ko sa kanila was yung morale ng team. Credit to them, okay sila and they still focused on playing possession by possession. In fact, dun sa three-game stretch namin, maganda pa rin yung depensa namin,” Racela said about the team staying composed despite their recent losing streak.
“Yung effort nila was still there even if we were losing. Yung resulta hindi namin nakuha, pero yung proseso ng ginagawa namin was still there. I knew that in time makukuha din namin yung panalo.”
Meanwhile, LPU finished the eliminations at 3-10. They will face a do-or-die play-in clash against the San Sebastian Golden Stags on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
The Scores:
Perpetual 72 – Gojo Cruz 10, Abis 9, Boral 9, Tulabut 9, Casinillo 8, Alcantara 6, Duremdes 6, Nunez 5, Sleat 5, Orgo 3, Maglupay 2, Roluna 0, Magdangal 0, Gelsano 0, Borja 0,
Lyceum 57 – Barba 13, Montano 8, Penafiel 8, Aurigue 6, Daileg 5, Pallingayan 5, Moralejo 4, Villegas 4, Versoza 3, Casino 1, Abregana 0, Matienzo 0, Aviles 0, Paulo 0, Reyes 0
Quarterscores: 21-9, 37-27, 61-42, 72-57
