Mark Omega emerged as the unlikely hero for University of Perpetual Help System DALTA as he sank the game-winning triple to stun Lyceum of the Philippines University, 81-80, in the NCAA Season 99 on Sunday.
Enoch Valdez missed two free throws that allowed Perpetual to get the possession back before Jielo Razon issued a pass to Omega. The 6-foot-5 big man then knocked down his lone triple of the game to give the ALTAs an 81-80 cushion with 2.4 ticks left.
LPU had the chance to snatch the victory but JM Bravo wasn't able to catch the inbound pass from Greg Cunanan.
With the win, Perpetual extended its winning streak to four to improve to 8-7 while LPU snapped its five-game winning streak to go 11-4.
Banking on the hot hands of Christian Pagaran, Perpetual staged a fightback in the third period after unleashing an 11-2 closing run to almost erase a 10-point lead, 65-66.
The Pirates, however, got their own dose of a run when Mclaude Guadaña, Shawn Umali, and Gyle Montaño sent them to a 73-67 cushion to open the fourth. But the ballgame became a tight affair from that point as neith team chose to surrender.
Valdez drove for a layup but a putback play from Jun Roque and a one-handed floater from Razon made it a single-possession affair at 78-80 with 1:32 left.
Cyrus Nitura flirted with a triple-double as he churned out 18 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists alongside three steals and one block while Pagaran tallied 14 markers, three dimes, and two boards.
Both Roque and Omega finished with double-double outings with the former posting 14 points and 11 rebounds while the latter produced 10 markers and 12 boards.
Perpetual will take on another contender in Mapua University on Wednesday while lpu takes on San Sebastian on Friday.
Scores:
Perpetual 81- Nitura 81, Pagaran 14, Roque 14, Omega 10, Razon 9, Abis 8, Boral 5, Gelsano 3, Barcuma 0, Nunez 0, Ferreras 0, Cuevas 0.
LPU 80- Valdez 16, Barba 14, Umali 11, Montano 11, Guadana 11, Omandac 8, Bravo 5, Cunanan 4, Versoza 0, Villegas 0, Penafiel 0, Fuentes 0, Moralejo 0.
Quarterscores: 24-25; 39-47; 65-66; 81-80.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
