The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas locked down the Mapua Insititute of Techonology Cardinals right from the get go en route to a 71-51 blowout win to gain solo second in the NCAA Season 92 Seniors Basketball Tournament Thursday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Gab Dagangon notched his second straight double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. He was 7-of-15 from the field, knocking down two threes in the process. 19-year-old big man Bright Akhuetie also had a double-double, with 11 points and 12 rebounds in just 25 minutes of game time.
“We’re so happy sa pinakitang performance ng team namin ngayon,” said an elated Perpetual head coach Jimwell Gican about the win. “Nagbunga ang paghihirap namin at mga sakirpisyo namin sa practices namin.”
The Altas stifled the Cardinals in the opening quarter, limiting Mapua to just eight points. The Perpetual lead grew further in the second frame, 34-18, entering the break.
“Sobrang ganda kasi ito talaga ang gusto naming mangyari, na yan ang lalabas sa stats,” Gican added. “First quarter nga, eight points lang ang pina-score namin sa Mapua. Second quarter 10 points lang.”
Andrew Estrella tried to will last season’s hosts back in the third canto. The bulky floor general scored six points in an 8-1 rally to cut the deficit to just nine, 26-35, midway through the quarter. However, Dagangon, as he has done all season, knocked down a line three to stop the Altas bleeding.
“Unang-una, sabi sa amin ni coach tumrabaho lang. Pag nagtrabaho, darating din ang opensa,” Dagangon said.
Throughout the Perpetual surge, the defense was able to limit reigning Most Valuable Player Allwell Oraeme to just six points and five turnovers. Oraeme, though, still grabbed 13 rebounds, and was able to swat away four shots.
Even with a huge lead, the Altas did not let up in the final frame with a blistering 19-7 rally that gave Perpetual a game-high 23 point lead, 71-48, with 55.8 ticks remaining.
The game-breaking rally stemmed from AJ Coronel, Daryl Singontiko, and Dagangon utilizing their height, swatting away attempts by the Cardinals. On the other end, the troika were able to feast on the inside, and with Oraeme benched, Akhuetie capped the scintillating run with a tomahawk dunk to the delight of the Perpetual faithful in attendance.
Darell Menina was the only Cardinal in double-digits with 13 points. Mapua were limited to just 30 percent shooting and just 3-of-18 from downtown.
The Perpetual Altas finish the first round at second place with a 7-2 slate. The Mapua Cardinals (5-3) will finish their opening round campaign on Tuesday, August 9 ,against the Letran Knights.
The Scores:
UPHSD (71) – Dagangong 20, Akhuetie 11, Singontiko 10, Coronel 9, Pido 8, Eze 5, Hao 4, Dizon 4, Sadiwa 0, Oliveria 0, Gallardo 0, Yuhico 0.
MIT (51) – Menina 13, Estrella 8, Aguirre 8, Biteng 7, Oraeme 6, Bunag 4, Victoria 2, Eriobu 2, Serrano 1, Orquina 0, Raflores 0, Dela Rosa 0.
Quarterscores: 15-8, 34-18, 48-34, 71-51.
