University of Perpetual Help System DALTA finally broke through in NCAA Season 99 after crushing Arellano University, 85-66, on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Perpetual ALTAs ended their two-game slide to improve to 1-2 while the Chiefs dropped to 0-3.
The ALTAs rode on a strong third quarter, where they were firing on all cylinders to outscore the Chiefs, 21 to 9, and take a commanding 68-43 lead before heading to the payoff period.
In the first half, the youngsters duo of Cyrus Nitura and Jun Roque took care of business against an Arellano side whose main offensive weapon was Jade Talampas.
Talampas dropped 20 points in the first half alone but it was not enough as it was the ALTAs that enjoyed a 47-34 halftime lead.
Nitura put the finishing touches, burying two triples in the fourth to send the Las Piñas crew to a 77-50 cushion en route to a victory that made up for their previous losses to EAC and Lyceum.
Nitura led the way for Perpetual with 19 points on 7-for-13 (53.8-percent) shooting, along with nine rebounds and five assists.
Several other ALTAs also came up big as Christian Pagaran added 17 markers, Jun Roque chipped in with 13 points, eight boards, five dimes, and two blocks, and Mark Omega posted a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Talampas finished with a game-high 23 to pace Arellano, but only three of those came in the second half.
The ALTAs will be happy to take this one after starting this season with a 75-67 loss to EAC and dropping a tight 76-73 squeaker against Lyceum of the Philippines University.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, now have losses to San Beda, San Sebastian, and Perpetual on their NCAA Season 99 record.
Perpetual takes on Jose Rizal University on Saturday while Arellano has LPU next on Friday.
The scores:
Perpetual 85 - Nitura 19, Pagaran 17, Roque 13, Omega 12, Razon 7, Abis 6, Boral 4, Ferreras 3, Nunez 2, Barcuma 1, Gelsano 1, Sevilla 0, Cuevas 0, Ramirez 0.
Arellano 66 - Talampas 23, Ongotan 9, Geronimo 9, Sunga 9, Dayrit 8, Capulong 5, Villarente 4, Mallari 1, Camay 0, Abastillas 0, Yanes 0, Dela Cruz 0, Valencia 0, Rosalin 0, Lustina 0.
Quarters: 22-10, 47-34, 68-43, 85-66.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
