John Abis and Carlo Ferreras turned in some big performances for University of Perpetual Help System DALTA as they denied a depleted De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 89-83, in NCAA Season 98 on Friday.
Abis posted a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists while Ferreras scored seven of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the ALTAs clinch the win.
Perpetual, which was riding a three-game losing streak, improved to 6-9 while Benilde dropped to 10-4 just three days after the incident against Jose Rizal University.
The ALTAs did their work early in the game as they took leads of as high as 18, 39-21, in the first half behind Ferreras and Abis, who combined for 18 points by the halftime break.
But the embattled Blazers made sure not to go at the break with a double-digit deficit, closing the half with a 19-10 run led by Will Gozum and JC Cullar, 49-40.
Perpetual entered the payoff period leading, 68-59, but Benilde continued to chip away.
A Will Gozum putback with 3:47 left sent Benilde to 79-72 and back-to-back triples from Migs Oczon late made it a six-point game, 88-82, with 16.5 ticks left.
Oczon then got fouled from downtown by Jef Egan, but he only made one of his three free throws before missing on a last-gasp triple attempt.
Omega sealed the stunner with a split from the charity stripe.
Perpetual was missing the services of Jielo Razon while Benilde played without Mark Sangco, Ladis Lepalam, and Chris Flores, who were suspended for at least a game after the stopped JRU-Benilde game last Tuesday.
The scores:
Perpetual 89 - Ferreras 19, Flores 18, Abis 13, Egan 8, Barcuma 8, Roque 8, Martel 6, Cuevas 5, Omega 4, Boral 0.
Benilde 83 - Oczon 22, Gozum 13, Cullar 10, Nayve 10, Corteza 9, Pasturan 8, Marcos 6, Sumabat 5, Carlos 0, Davis 0, Lim 0.
Quarters: 23-14, 49-40, 68-59, 89-83.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
