University of Perpetual Help System DALTA extended its dream run after overcoming Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 91-90, in Game 2 of NCAA juniors basketball finals on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Junior Altas, who ended the elimination round as the top team, have equalized the series and forced a deciding Game 3 on Saturday.
Letran stepped on the gas pedal early on, leading by as much as 18 points before the Junior Altas caught up and ended the half trailing by just nine, 59-50.
The Joph Cleopas-mentored crew then unleashed a huge third quarter to only trail by two ahead of the crucial payoff period, 75-73, as Amiel Acido and JD Pagulayan started to heat up from deep.
Down again late in the fourth, 88-83, Pagulayan buried a massive three-pointer before Xedric Diaz completed a one-handed floater to tie things up at 88-all with 2:01 to go in the clock. However, Letran regained a 90-88 lead courtesy of a Syrex Silorio basket.
Acido then nailed his fourth triple to give the Las Piñas crew a 91-90 lead.
Fortunately for the Junior Altas, Letran missed three straight free throws after Alex Gazzingan and Silorio went blank on the charity stripe.
Pagulayan led the comeback with a double-double effort of 23 points and 10 rebounds while Acido churned out 19 markers, five boards, four steals, and two assists as they moved closer to a breakthrough title.
Silorio emerged as the leading scorer for Letran with 20 points to step up for Jonathan Manalili, who was limited to just 12 markers following a 35-point outing in Game 1.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
