The University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) Altas will end the 2015 FilOil-Flying V Hanes Premier Cup elimination round on a high note after coming out victorious against the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 86-76, to cement the number one spot of the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Both the Bulldogs and the Altas played close in the opening quarter, sending it to an 11-all tie midway. The two squads exchanged baskets, be it triples or layups, to try to take the lead. NU was up 17-16 after a Kyle Neypes layup, but the Altas’ Flash Sadiwa also made a layup to give UPHSD the lead closing the first, 18-17.
NU went up 23-20 after a Neypes triple in the second frame, but the Altas, with Bright Akhuetie leading the charge, scored nine straight points to regain the lead, 29-23, midway into the quarter. NU closed within four, 29-25, but Akhuetie once again led UPHSD towards a 37-26 advantage. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, erased the huge deficit by limiting UPHSD to just three points to end the quarter behind only by five, 40-35.
The Altas played with well-balanced attacks in the third canto. Despite Akhuetie being sat out, UPHSD, from a slim 49-44 lead, rallied behind Sadiwa, Gabriel Dagangon, and Gerald Dizon to post an eleven-point, 58-47 lead with less than three minutes left. UPHSD’s stifling defense helped them outscore NU 25-17, propelling them to a thirteen-point, 65-52 lead heading into the final canto.
UPHSD posted the game’s biggest advantage, 75-56, at the 5:39 mark of the fourth quarter after a Dagangon layup. The Altas sustained the huge lead, keeping NU at bay with their perimeter shooting. But NU would not back down, being able to cut down the huge deficit to just 10, 79-69, after baskets from JJ Alejandro and Seny Gaye. Both players also chipped in baskets to send NU closer, 82-74, but UPHSD scored four more down the stretch to eke out the win.
Four Altas scored in double figures in the win. Akhuetie led all scorers with 21 points, Dizon had 16, while G-Jay Ylagan and Prionce Eze added 13 and 11, respectively. Alejandro led NU with 16 markers in the loss, which sends them out of contention in the tourney.
The Scores:
UPHSD 86 – Akhuetie 21, Dizon 16, Ylagan 13, Eze 11, Dagangon 9, Elopre 7, Sadiwa 4, Oliveria 2, Coronel 2, Bantayan 1, Gallardo 0, Imperial 0, Cabiltes 0, Tamayo 0
NU 76 – Alejandro 16, Salim 13, Diputado 11, Gaye 10, Javelona 9, Neypes 7, Javillonar 5, Rangel 4, Celda 1, Abatayo 0, Tansingco 0, Morido 0, Lastimosa 0
| TEAMS | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH |
| UPHSD (A, 7-1) | 18 | 40 | 65 | 86 |
| NU (A, 4-4) | 17 | 35 | 52 | 76 |
