Altas wow Knights, Stags escape Blazers
Perpetual’s Jett Vidal drives in their game against Letran. (Arvyn Peter Radovan / FCF)
GAMES MONDAY (JULY 2, 2012) – THE ARENA IN SAN JUAN
4:00pm – San Sebastian vs Perpetual Help
6:00pm – San Beda vs Lyceum
Perennial cellar-dwellers University of Perpetual Help Altas escaped host Letran Knights, 69-66, en route to their best start in recent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history at the San Juan Gym earlier today.
The revamped Altas, coached by the legendary Aric del Rosario, started the game lethargically but blitzed a 10-0 run midway in the fourth period to provide enough cushion for the narrow win.
Knight leader Kevin Alas, coming off a career-best 31-point performance in Season 88’s opening game against the San Sebastian Stags, missed a three-pointer at the final buzz to chalk a 1-1 record for Letran.
Second year man Earl Thompson led the Altas with 17 points and four blocks but veteran Jett Vidal once again played the role of fourth quarter man, scoring seven of his nine points in the fourth period to spark Perpetual’s run.
The Altas hold a 2-0 record to temporarily share the lead with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers.
In the first game, last year’s finalists San Sebastian Stags won its first game by the skin of their teeth, 95-93, against the much-improved College of Saint Benilde Blazers.
La Salle’s affiliate school trimmed a nine-point deficit late in the payoff period only to allow the Stags to connect on two straight baskets courtesy of Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang to give the Stags an insurmountable four-point cushion, 95-91.
Despite Benildean spitfire Carlo Lastimosa’s efforts to salvage a Blazer win, his final shot was blocked by Stag veteran Ronald Pascual at the buzzer.
Reigning most valuable player Abueva topscored with 23 points and hauled 23 rebounds. Pascual meanwhile bounced back with 19 points a week after going scoreless in his opening game.
Former La Salle Green Archer Joel Tolentino scored 20 for the Blazers while Lastimosa added 19. The Blazers, Stags, and Knights are tied with a 1-1 record.
BOX SCORES
First game
SAN SEBASTIAN (95): Abueva 23, Pascual 20, Sangalang 19, Dela Cruz 16, Antipuesto 8, Rebullos 5, Juico 4, Vitug 0, Miranda 0, Maiquez 0.
BENILDE (93): Tolentino 20, Lastimosa 19, Taha 17, Romero 14, Sinco 10, Tan 5, Bartolo 2, Maconocido 2, Grey 2, Ongteco 2, Deles 0, Dela Paz 0.
QUARTERS: 22-27, 46-53, 73-69, 95-93
Second game
PERPETUAL (69): Thompson 14, Jolangcob 11, Vidal 9, Allen 7, Paulino 6, Babayemi 6, Omorogbe 4, Elopre 4, Alano 4, Arboleda 4
LETRAN (66): K. Alas 15, Cortes 14, Cruz 9, Belorio 9, Almazan 6, Lituania 5, Racal 4, Gabawan 3, Luib 1, J. Alas 0
QUARTERS: 15-18, 31-34, 51-50, 69-66
