University of Perpetual Help System DALTA survived San Sebastian College-Recoletos’ second-half comeback, 79-73, to claim the final quarterfinal ticket in the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Play-In on Thursday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
The Altas will face defending champion San Beda University in the next round of the playoffs, which begins next week at the same venue. It will be their first postseason meeting since the NCAA Season 94 Final Four.
Perpetual initially created separation with a 12-5 run to close out the first quarter with a 27-20 lead. The Altas continued to capitalize on their trips to the free-throw line, building an 11-point advantage at halftime.
Although both teams made 16 field goals, including eight three-pointers, Perpetual had the edge at the charity stripe, sinking 11 more free throws than the Stags.
However, San Sebastian mounted a comeback, unleashing a 15-2 run that stretched from the third quarter into the opening two minutes of the final period to knot the game at 64-all.
With 3:39 remaining, the Stags finally seized the lead, 71-69, on a Kent Bacani triple. Jim Corpuz answered with a three-pointer of his own, allowing Perpetual to regain the advantage.
Vincent Segovia then put San Sebastian back on top with a layup, but Shawn Orgo once again pulled the Altas level from the free-throw line, 73-all.
Orgo came up clutch once more, drilling a mid-range jumper to give Perpetual a two-point cushion with less than a minute remaining.
Mark Gojo Cruz followed with a crucial and-one play with 18.6 seconds left, while Rey Maglupay sealed the victory at the free-throw line to complete the Altas’ escape.
San Sebastian, meanwhile, finished its Season 102 campaign without a victory after going 0-13 in the eliminations.
The last time a team went winless in the Grand Old League was when the PCU Dolphins posted 0-12 records in their maiden seasons in 1996—the final year of the split-season format—and 1997, when the Final Four format was introduced.
