The University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA Altas grinded the rampaging Arellano University Chiefs in a 76-62 win to snap the Chiefs’ seven-game winning streak and create a logjam for the second spot Thursday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Gab Dagangon led the Altas with 22 points, nine coming from the third frame that helped quell the hot hands of Jio Jalalon and Kent Salado. Daryl Singontiko added 13 points to finish off the Chiefs’ streak.
“Talagang nagsunog kami ng kilay doon para makuha ang panalo,” Perpetual head coach Jimwell Gican after steering his team to its tenth win in 13 games. “Trabaho lang naman kaya naging maganda ang naging outcome. Yung preparation, sobrang haba, sobrang tagal ng preparation, so nagbunga.”
The Chiefs, after falling behind for the entire game, closed in on the Altas early in the final frame, cutting the lead to just four 54-50.
However, the Perpetual five zoned-in on the Chiefs, forcing their opponents to contested, long-range shots. On the other end, Daryl Singontiko and Keith Pido lambasted Arellano in a 10-3 run with 4:50 remaining.
“Siyempre nakita ko sa kanya na sya lang ang pwedeng tumapat kay Jalalon,” Gican remarked about Pido, who finished the game with 10 points and seven rebounds. “Mahirap sa sitwasyon kay keith kasi una siya ang number one point guard namin. Pangalawa, siya pa ang dedepensa.”
“Pero sabi ko nga, ganito talaga ang basketball, kailangan natin mag-trabaho ng matindi para maging successful tayo.”
A couple of three-pointers by Singontiko and late baskets by Gab Dagangon completely demoralized the Chiefs en route to a 76-62 win, Arellano’s lowest output of the season.
Nigerian student-athlete Bright Akhuetie added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
For the first year Perpetual head coach, he and his team have no time to relax as the elimination round is about to end.
“Wala pa rin sa sistema namin yung magre-relax kami,” he closed. “Every game is a championship game para sa amin, kasi yun nga, gusto naming makabalik sa Final Four.”
Kent Salado paced the Chiefs with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field. All-Filipino point guard Jio Jalalon added 19 markers but on a horrid 7-for-22 shooting clip.
The Perpetual Altas (T-2nd, 10-3) will next face the defending champions Letran Knights on Tuesday, September 6 at 4:00pm. On the other hand, the Arellano Chiefs (T-2nd, 10-3) look to bounce back against the Lyceum Pirates (5-8) on the same day at 12:00nn.
The Scores:
UPHSD (76) – Dagangon 22, Akhuetie 15, Singontiko 13, Pido 10, Coronel 9, Eze 3, Dizon 2, Gallardo 2, Sadiwa 0, Hao 0, Ylagan 0.
AU (62) – Salado 22, Jalalon 19, Flores 6, Cadavis 6, Holts 4, Meca 2, Villoria 2, Canete 1, Nicholls 0, Enriquez 0, Gumaru 0, Rivera 0.
Quarterscores: 18-7, 35-27, 54-48, 76-62.
