University of Perpetual Help System DALTA cruised to back-to-back wins in the NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball tournament after escaping a gallant Emilio Aguinaldo College, 93-85, on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Mark Gojo Cruz continued his steady performance for the Junior ALTAs, tallying a team-high 26 points on top of eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal while Icee Callangan dropped five triples to finish with 15 markers alongside six boards, four dimes, and two swats.
Perpetual, which was coming off an 89-75 victory against Lyceum of the Philippines University last Saturday, improved to 2-0 while the Brigadiers dropped to an even 1-1.
EAC was able to trim down to six what was once a 14-point deficit after a Janray Castillo jumper in the final 2:24 of the fourth quarter, 80-86, before Jan Pagulayan sank two free throws followed by a huge triple from Xedric Diaz to send the Junior ALTAs back up by 11, 91-80.
EAC still tried to come back from that hole through an Aron Bautista's and-one play but the Gonzalo Catalan-helmed squad could not complete the comeback.
The loss spoiled Castillo's 28-point outing that came just days after exploding for 30 markers in their previous win against LSGH. He also put together 11 rebounds and one steal while Rodonnel Campana chipped in 12 markers, three assists, and three steals in the loss.
In the first game, San Sebastian College-Recoletos pulled off a 101-62 lopsided win against LPU to also grab an early share of the lead at 2-0 while Junior Pirates slipped to 0-2.
Ruvic Danag scattered 18 points alongside two rebounds and four assists while Jhun Penaverde once again starred as he churned out 15 markers, five boards, and four dimes for the Staglets.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
