A huge win by the Perpetual Help Altas over the Letran Knights highlighted the three-game NCAA Season 94 action on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Coming from a close encounter with defending champions San Beda Red Lions, the Altas' win against a powerhouse like Letran solidifiy their stature as a team to watch out for this season.
Here are the complete results on Friday:
Perpetual Help def. Letran, 78-75
In a stunning display of defense, the new-look Altas made a loud and definitive statement in the league with a 78-75 win over the Letran Knights.
Cellar-dwellers the season before, there was reasonable hype surrounding the Altas with the arrival of multi-titled mentor Frankie Lim. They lost their season opener against the San Beda Red Lions, but showed incredible resolve against a Final Four contender in their second outing.
Up by three points with 13.2 seconds remaining, Lim simply wanted his team to hold on.
"When we were up by three points, all I asked is to make a stop and get the rebound," Lim insisted.
Letran's Bong Quinto drove hard to the basket but was met by the long arms of Prince Eze. After the terrific block by Eze, the ball found its way to JP Calvo who had a chance to tie the game. As the Altas defenders were scrambling toward the perimeter, Calvo lost the ball and the game.
"It's all about finishing games and closing out," said Lim.
The Altas showed impenetrable defense as they held the Knights to just two points in the last seven minutes of the contest.
Edgar Charcos was the high-point man for Perpetual with a career-high 27 points on 9-for-12 shooting. He already had 22 in the first half but also carried with him four personal fouls. He sat out much of the second half but was able to deliver down the stretch.
The win was particularly sweet for the Altas beating a team like the Knights who boasted a loaded roster.
"It's nice because it's against a strong team," Lim shared, as the Altas improve to 1-1 in the standings. "I consider Letran up there. Top three with San Beda, Lyceum. It's a big, big step for us."
The Altas look to build on their win when they take on the Arellano Chiefs in their next game.
San Sebastian def. St. Benilde, 85-78
The San Sebastian Stags bounced back from their opening day loss by defeating the CSB Blazers, 85-78.
"The boys really wanted to win. We saw their intensity the whole game," beamed San Sebastian mentor Egay Macaraya.
Veterans Michael Calisaan and RK Ilagan paved the way for the Stags victory. Calisaan had a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three assists and four steals. Ilagan tallied 16 points and buried the dagger trey to push the Stags lead to nine points with a minute and a half remaining.
"That is why they're called veterans. You saw how composed they are," Macaraya said about his two stars. "This time, they showed that they can carry the team."
Edward Dixon had 12 points while Yankie Haruna chipped in with 10 for the Blazers who lost in their first game of the year. Interestingly, Haruna and reinforcement Clement Leutcheu only played in the second half. Despite the loss, they've shown flashes of brilliance, going toe-to-toe with a final four team like San Sebastian.
"Give credit to Benilde," Macaraya shared about their opponent. "The Benilde right now isn't like the team before. I know Benilde is improving a lot."
Lyceum def. EAC, 106-97
In the first game, the Lyceum Pirates held off a gritty effort from the EAC Generals, 106-97. Last year's runners-up were nearly victims of a monumental upset after squandering a 31-point lead in the third quarter. The Pirates were up 72-41 early in the second half but the Generals answered with a whopping 36-8 run to cut the lead to just three points, 80-77, heading into the final frame.
"I just reminded the players that EAC also practices," said a relieved head coach Topex Robinson. "If we're not going to honor the game, it will come back to haunt us. If they think that EAC will just give the game to us, it's going to be a disaster."
Fortunately, the Pirates restored order in the fourth quarter as Jaycee Marcelino scored 13 of his 24 points, to notch their second win of the season.
"Still, it's part of the learning process for us," Robinson added.
THE SCORES
FIRST GAME
LPU 106 - JC Marcelino 24, Perez 20, Tansingco 11, JV Marcelino 10, Nzeusseu 7, Serrano 7, Ayaay 6, Caduyac 5, Ibanez 4, Valdez 4, Lumbao 3, Yong 3, Pretta 2, Santos 0, Cinco 0
EAC 97 - Laminou 34, Garcia 20, Mendoza 13, Bautista 10, Robin 9, Magullano 5, Natividad 3, Cruz 2, Tampoc 1, Neri 0, Diego 0, Cadua 0, Bugarin 0, Gonzales 0
Quarters: 30-13, 59-38, 80-77, 106-97
SECOND GAME
SAN SEBASTIAN 85 - Calisaan 18, Ilagan 16, Bulanadi 13, Calma 10, Capobres 7, Villapando 7, Dela Cruz 6, Are 4, Sumoda 4, Desoyo 0, Valdez 0.
ST. BENILDE 78 - Dixon 12, Haruna 10, Pasturan 9, Gutang 8, Belgica 6, Leutcheu 6, Young 6, Carlos 5, Naboa 5, Velasco 4, Pagulayan 3, Domingo 2, Nayve 2, Barnes 0.
Quarters 24-27, 44-44, 63-64, 85-78.
THIRD GAME
PERPETUAL 78 - Charcos 27, Razon 13, Coronel 12, Aurin 10, Eze 7, Peralta 4, Mangalino 3, Gallardo 2, Canoy 0, Cuevas 0.
LETRAN 75 - Quinto 15, Calvo 14, Ambohot 11, Muyang 10, Fajarito 7, Yu 6, Balanza 5, Batiller 5, Balagasay 2, Agbong 0, Mandreza 0.
Quarters: 21-23, 45-44, 60-61, 78-75.