By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
University of Perpetual Help gave veteran coach Olsen Racela a fitting welcome as the Altas trounced the Jose Rizal University Bombers, 82-66, to jumpstart their NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Altas picked up their pace in the second half when they untangled themselves from a 41-all halftime deadlock and led by as many as 20 points, 80-60, in the last 1:43 of the game en route to their first win in the season.
John Boral produced a double-double effort of 17 points and 10 rebounds for Perpetual, whose stifling defense allowed JRU to only score 25 points in the last two quarters.
Mark Gojo Cruz also also impressed for the Altas with 15 points, five boards and two steals.
JRU last tasted the lead late in the second period after Shawn Argente drained a triple for a 41-39 edge with 23 ticks to go.
But Cedrick Abis answered back with a buzzer-beating jumper to tie the count at the break, enough to ignite the tempo at the start of the third.
A 7-0 blast in the first four minutes of the third period courtesy of Cruz and Shawn Orgo put Perpetual on top, 48-41, and held on it to the delight of Racela.
Christian Pagaran also scored in double figures for the Altas with 11 points, while Abis and Ralph Cauguiran took control in the paint by combining for 13 rebounds.
It also helped that Perpetual’s bench players also stepped up, delivering 44 points.
Joshua Gulab and Mart Barrera scored 15 and 10 points for the Bombers, who only managed six points off the Altas’ turnovers.
Perpetual also won the battle of the boards, 43-28.
Meanwhile, the NCAA has identified one of the personalities involved in a mauling incident of a referee after the College of St. Benilde and Mapua game last Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
In a statement released Tuesday, Sept. 10, the league said it is already conducting its own investigation in the matter and added that the Management Committee has been informed that the “said person will be banned by Mapua from participating in any of its school events.”
“The Mancom shall be guided by the association’s Manual of Operations in handling this concern and shall impose the appropriate penalty within its rules to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” the statement read.
The scores:
PERPETUAL 82 – Boral 17, Cruz 15, Pagaran 11, Orgo 7, Pizarro 7, Manuel 7, Gelsano 5, Montemayor 3, Abis 3, Cauguiran 3, Nunez 2, Sevilla 2, Javier 0, Danag 0, Movida 0.
JRU 66 – Guiab 15, Barrera 10, Pangilinan 8, Lozano 7, Argente 5, Ramos 5, Panapanaan 4, De Leon 4, Samontanes 3, Raymundo 2, Mosqueda 2, Medina 1, Benitez 0, Sarmiento 0, Ferrer 0.
Quarters: 20-21; 41-41; 64-56; 82-66.
