Junior Altas looking good with 7-1 card

Games tomorrow (Filoil EcoOil Arena) 8 a.m. – SSC-R vs UPHSD

10 a.m. – JRU vs EAC 12 p.m. – San Beda vs Mapua 2:30 p.m. – Letran vs CSB

4:30 p.m. – LPU vs AU For the first time ever, the University of Perpetual Help has a clear shot at a breakthrough championship in NCAA junior basketball.

It became clearer following the Junior Altas’ emphatic 94-88 victory over reigning titlist Letran yesterday that sent the former straight to the top in Season 99 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Amiel Acido presided over the shocking win after unleashing a masterful 27-point effort, including 17 in the third period when the Johp Cleopas-mentored squad survived a ferocious rally by the back-to-back titleseeking Dominican school in claiming a 7-1 slate for the solo lead.

It could finish in the top two, if not seize the lead, with a win over San Sebastian in the final elimination round play date tomorrow. The Squires dropped to 6-2. Perpetual Help, Letran and Mapua (6-1), which was tackling SSC-R (5-2) at press time, have claimed a Final Four berth following San Beda’s 82-79 defeat to Jose Rizal U in the next game. The scores: First Game JRU 82 – Marin 18, Rivera 14, Enal 13, Pineda 11, Abequibel 8, Natividad 6, Guarino 5, Capistrano 3, Rico 2, Taparan 2, Ferrer 0, Pinzon 0, Castillo 0.

San Beda 79 – Lorenzo 20, Canete 19, Ugaddan 10, Batong Bakal 9, Viloces 7, Dollente 5, Sollano 5, Mercado 2, Mondigo 2, Wagan 0, Medroso 0, San Juan 0, Feliciano 0. Quarterscores: 23-13; 42-36; 59-57; 82-79 Second Game UPHSD 94 – Acido 27, Gojo Cruz 17, Pagulayan 14, Darp 11, Diaz 6, Baldoria 5, Borja 4, Ayon 3, Valencia 3, Callangan 2, Roluna 2, Cristino 0.

Letran 88 – Manalili 21, Baliling 21, Navarro 19, Padillas 15, Diamante 6, Cruz 2, Silorio 2, De Leon 2, Hugo 0, Villanueva 0, Gazzingan 0, Reyes 0, Golez 0. Quarterscores: 19-22; 49-37; 78-64; 94-88 Third Game EAC 92 – Castillo 30, Asay 18, Jawali 9, Coronel 9, Mariquit 8, Campana 5, Bautista 4, Razo 4, Luna 2, Lumbo 2, Iraham 1, Tecson 0, Canonigo 0.

AU 87 – Reguera 25, Espinosa 16, Yu 12, Franco 9, Javier 6, Mendoza 6, Montesclaros 4, Distrito 4, Austria 3, Pascual 2, Pangilinan 0, Vergara 0, Llantos 0, Novillo 0, Tanudtanod 0.

Quarterscores: 24-15; 46-43; 68-68; 92-87