The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas sustain their hot start in the 2016 Filoil Flying V Premier Cup after a 61-52 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals Wednesday morning in San Juan City.
Gab Dagangon and Bright Akuetie continued their hot start in the preseason tournament as both scored 12 points each in the win. Dagangon, after a horrendous 1 for 5 start from the field in the game, was able to knockdown two triples late in the game while the Nigerian student-athlete was able to grab 11 boards for the Altas.
The Generals were able to keep pace with the Altas in the first half behind Jervin Guzman’s nine first half points, all from three-point country. Moreover, Perpetual committed 13 first half turnovers that led to nine turnover points for EAC to go down by just two entering the halftime break, 28-26.
“We are not patient enough on our offense and we are so much in a hurry,” head coach Nic Omorogbe said about the sloppy start the Altas had in the game. “These are young basketball players, team first. You can’t sustain the momentum you gained in a blowout.”
The struggle from the field continued for both squads in the third frame as they were only able to score 18 combined points in the quarter as Perpetual held on to a four point lead, 38-34, entering the final frame. Behind energy guy Sydney Onwubere and a three by the returning Igee King, the Generals were able to tie the game at 44-all with 5:46 left in the game.
After a Perpetual timeout, transferee Daryl Singontiko was able to knock down a fader that sparked a 10-2 Altas run. Two triples by Dagangon and a pull-up jumper by Jonathan Yuhico gave the Las Pinas-based squad a 54-46 lead with three minutes remaining. A 4-0 rally by the Generals cut the lead to just five with 41 ticks remaining but an excellent bullet pass by Dagangon to a cutting Yuhico and an Akhuetie dunk sealed the game for the now 3-0 Altas.
“All games are not the same. Sometimes you come up struggling while sometimes all shots are falling,” Omorogbe added as his team shot a dismal 42% from the field and committed 22 turnovers. “This is one the games that we struggled. I’m just so happy that they have their mind right and everyone followed the game plan.”
Jervin Guzman led EAC with 12 markers on a 4 for 7 shooting clip. Four Generals added seven markers each.
The Perpetual Altas (A, 3-0) will next face NCAA rivals, the Arellano University Chiefs, on Friday, May 13 at 5:00pm. The EAC Generals (A, 0-2) look for their first win of the tournament on the same day as they face the San Sebastian Golden Stags on the same day at 1:30pm.
The Scores:
UPHSD (61) – Dagangon 12, Akhuetie 12, Yuhico 9, Singontiko 8, Eze 8, Lucente 8, Ylagan 4, Coronel 0, Dizon 0, Pido 0, Sadiwa 0.
EAC (52) – Guzman 12, Laminou 7, Onwubere 7, King 7, Diego 7, Munsayac 5, Pascua 3, Mendoza 2, General 2, Morada 0, Estacio 0, Neri 0, Corilla 0.
Quarterscores: 13-9, 28-26, 38-34, 61-52.
