University of Perpetual Help System DALTA escaped a tough Emilio Aguinaldo College team, 63-60, to clinch a place in the NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball tournament’s play-in round on Friday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Kim Aurin scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter to lead Perpetual while Mark Omega posted a career-high 13 points to go along with 15 rebounds and four blocks.
Both teams entered the game with 3-5 records with the final spot in the play-in tournament at stake. The Altas finish their elimination round at 4-5 to advance to the next round while the Generals ended their campaign at 3-6.
The game started out with a big exchange of runs with Perpetual starting out on an 11-0 blast before EAC countered with 10 unanswered points of their own. The Altas, though, responded with seven straight to close the first period ahead, 18-10.
They were able to make it a double-digit lead in the second quarter, but the Generals battled back to cut the UPHSD lead down to just seven, 33-26, at the halftime break.
Omega and Cris Pagaran led Perpetual with nine points apiece at the half while King Gurtiza paced EAC with 11 points.
Surprisingly, gunners like Aurin and EAC’s Ralph Robin were held scoreless over the first two periods.
Robin finally got something going in the third quarter, where he scored five points, as EAC continued to chip away at Perpetual’s advantage. The Generals outscored the Altas, 18-15, to come to within four, 48-44, to set up an explosive fourth quarter.
Aurin came alive in the fourth, scoring eight of the first 10 Perpetual points as they opened up a 58-49 lead. EAC fought their way back thanks to some big plays from Robin, Allen Liwag, and JP Maguliano, 61-57.
Aurin hit another basket but that was answered by a huge three from Gurtiza that made it a three-point game, 63-60, with 1:01 remaining.
Despite multiple opportunities to try for a tie, the Generals just could not save their season in the end.
Jielo Razon also contributed for the Altas with nine points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals in the win.
Gurtiza, who had his best game since returning from an early season injury, led all scored with 18 points while also grabbing nine rebounds for EAC.
Robin finished with 11 points - all in the second half - but was held to 4-for-15 shooting in the crucial contest.
The scores:
Perpetual 63 - Aurin 14, Omega 13, Pagaran 10, Razon 9, Egan 6, Barcuma 5, Cuevas 4, Martel 2, Sevilla 0, Abis 0.
EAC 60 - Gurtiza 18, Liwag 12, Robin 11, Maguliano 8, Cosejo 5, DOria 3, Luciano 2, Taywan 1, Quinal 0, Cosa 0, Bunyi 0, Cadua 0.
Quarters: 18-10, 33-26, 48-44, 63-60.
—JMB, GMA News
