Bombers hand Chiefs 3rd loss
GAMES SATURDAY (June 30, 2012) – The Arena in San Juan
4:00pm – College of St. Benilde vs San Sebastian College
6:00pm – Perpetual Help vs Letran College
Bemedalled college coach Aric del Rosario handily won his debut game in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as perennial cellar dwellers University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Altas outgunned the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, 82-70, at the San Juan Arena today.
Veteran slinger Jett Vidal scored heavily from the outside in the second half to lead the Las Pinas-based squad with 17 points while newcomer Earl Thompson was the spark in the first half with his quick dribble drives to finish with 16 points.
The Altas wowed the sophomore team Pirates in the first half with its radically changed offense, relying on a perfect running game en route to a 14-0 blanking in fastbreak points to lead by a baker’s dozen, 39-26.
Aside from its fluid offense, the Altas, showcasing Nigerian centers Nicholas Omorogbe and Adefemi Babeyemi, forced 15 first half turnovers against the Pirates and finished the game with eight blocks.
The Intramuros-based squad though retaliated in the third quarter and the first two minutes of the fourth quarter through the efforts of Christopher Cayabyab, Shane Ko, and Dexter Zamora to trim the Altas’ 17-point lead early in the third quarter to two, 57-59, early in the final canto.
Vidal however went amok offensively, sparking an 11-4 Altas run in the payoff period to renew its double digit lead and to seal the win for good.
Del Rosario, the 2009 NCAA commissioner, won four consecutive titles for the University of Santo Tomas Tigers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in the ‘90s and a championship in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.
In the second game, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers snatched its second straight win to temporarily lead the tournament with 77-65 thrashing of the lethargic Arellano University Chiefs.
Spitfire Nate Matute fired a career-best 29 points, including six three pointers to lead the way for the Mandaluyong-based squad.
Despite fighting neck-and-neck with the beleaguered Chiefs, who were playing its third game in five days, Matute’s back-to-back treys in the third quarter opened an offensive explosion for the Bombers.
Backing Matute was John Villarias, who scored seven points early in the last canto to build an insurmountable Bombers lead in the payoff period.
The Chiefs, mentored by multi-titled coach Koy Banal, lost its third straight game after being defeated by a six-man San Beda Red Lions last Sunday and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Chiefs last Monday.
BOX SCORES
First game
PERPETUAL (82): Vidal 17, Thompson 16, Omorogbe 14, Paulino 9, Babayemi 6, Allen 6, Jolangcob 5, Alano 5, Arboleda 2, Elopre 2, Asuncion 0
LYCEUM (70): Cayabyab 17, Ko 11, Francisco 11, Zamora 9, Laude 8, Guevarra 4, Azores 4, Garcia 2, Edding 0, Mendoza 0, Martinez 0, Mallari 0
QUARTERS: 19-14, 39-26, 57-54, 82-70
Second game
JOSE RIZAL (77): Matute 29, Lopez 12, Villarias 11, Almario 6, Mabulac 4, Monserat 4, Carampil 4, Salaveria 4, Maconocido 3, Camasura 0, Dela Paz 0, Munez 0, Mendoza 0, Porter 0
ARELLANO (65): Pinto 12, Acidre 10, Zulueta 8, Cadavis 8, Forrester 7, Hernandez 7, Bangga 5, Caperal 4, Salcedo 4, Valera 0
QUARTERS: 21-17, 38-36, 59-52, 77-65
