By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Saturday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
11 a.m. – San Beda vs SSCR
2:30 p.m. – CSB vs EAC
University of Perpetual Help withstood the late barrage of Arellano and eked out a 69-67 win on Friday, Sept. 13, for the early share of the lead in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Altas squandered a 55-43 lead late in the third but held on in the crunch to tie College of St. Benilde and San Sebastian for the lead – all with similar 2-0 cards.
Mark Gojo Cruz paced Perpetual with 20 points spiked by four triples, while John Boral chipped in 11 points including a booming trey in the last 48.3 seconds that gave them enough cushion, 68-65.
But the Chiefs refused to go down without a fight, with Greg Borromeo draining a jumper with 29.8 ticks left to trim their deficit to just one, 68-67.
Arellano had the chance to grab the win after drawing a crucial foul in the last 3.2 seconds, but Cyril Hernal failed to convert the two pressure-packed free throws.
Christian Pagaran stepped up with 10 points for Perpetual, which grabbed 19 second-chance points.
The Chiefs absorbed their second straight defeat despite Jerico Camay and Hernal scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Meantime, Sherick Estrada and Vince Cuajao orchestrated a 10-0 blast in the pivotal stretch of as Letran dismantled Jose Rizal University, 70-62.
Locked at 56-all with 5:50 left in the game, the dynamic duo delivered the goods including back-to-back triples from Cuajao — his only field goals in the match — for the much-needed separation en route to their first win in two starts.
Estrada paced the Knights by pumping in 22 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Cuajao’s six points came at an important time of the match.
James Miller also shone for Letran with 16 points, five assists and two boards, while Rafael Go chipped in eight points.
Letran battled through 10 deadlocks and 12 lead changes but mostly held the lead including after three quarters, 54-48.
But the Bombers banked on their stifling defense to keep the game close until Estrada and Cuajao stepped up for the Knights that took the fight out of their rivals.
A triple from Shawn Argente pulled JRU to within 66-61 in the final 1:49 but it turned out to be their last gallant stand as Letran went on to apply the finishing touches.
The Bombers fell to 0-2 despite Argente finishing with 18 points and Joshua Guiab adding12.
The scores:
First Game
LETRAN 70 – Estrada 70, Miller 16, Go 8, Cuajao 6, Dimaano 5, Pradella 4, Baliling 3, Jumao-os 3, Santos 2, Monje 1, Montecillo 0, Nunag 0, Delfino 0.
JRU 62 – Argente 18, Guiab 12, Raymundo 9, Pangilinan 8, Ramos 6, Panapanaan 5, Barrera 4, Samontanes 0, Benitez 0, De Leon 0, De Jesus 0, Medina 0.
Quarters: 16-15; 32-31; 54-48, 70-62.
Second Game
UPHSD 69- Gojo Cruz 20, Boral 11, Pagaran 10, Orgo 8, Gelsano 7, Abis 7, Manuel 3, Pizarro 2, Nunez 1, Montemayor 0.
AU 67- Camay 12, Hernal 10, Borromeo 8, Vinoya 8, Ongotan 6, Abiera 6, Geronimo 5, Valencia 4, Capulong 4, Miller 2, Dela Cruz 2, Acop 0, De Leon 0, Espiritu 0, Estacio 0.
Quarters: 17-16; 37-33; 57-45; 69-67.
