Altas rout Cardinals, gain solo second
Games today
12 noon – Lyceum vs Letran (Srs) 2 p.m. – San Beda vs San Sebastian (Srs) 4 p.m. – JRU vs Arellano (Srs)
Perpetual Help shut down reigning MVP Allwell Oraeme and the Altas dominated the Mapua Cardinals from the second quarter to hammer out a 71-51 romp yesterday and move to solo second in the 92nd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Altas stunned the Cardinals early on with a stifling defense, holding them to just eight first quarter points and 10 in the next on their way to posting a 20-point victory, their fifth straight and seventh overall against two losses.
San Beda remains in the lead with a 7-0 slate but three teams are in the chase, including Perpetual, Arellano (6-2) and Letran (5-2).
Led by Nigerian Bright Akhuetie, the Las Piñas- based squad held Oraeme to his season-low six points after coming into the game norming 17 points.
“We knew for us to beat Mapua, we need to really be aggressive on defense and we did that,” said Perpetual Help coach Jimwell Gican.
With their defense holding, the Altas went to Gab Dagangon in offense with Perpetual’s top gun exploding for 20 points and Akhuetie turning in his fifth double-double effort with 11 points and 12 rebounds while hounding Oraeme all game.
The Cardinals, who missed skipper CJ Isit for the second straight game due to injury, fell to fifth at 5-3.
Earlier, Emilio Aguinaldo College overpowered St. Benilde, 76-56, to remain in the Final Four hunt with a 3-6 mark.
Sydney Onwubere led the Generals with 16 points, seven boards, five assists and two blocks while Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou had 14 points, eight caroms and five shot blocks.
Remy Morada also had a solid game with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
“We just want to go into the second round with hopes that we could still make the Final Four,” said EAC mentor Ariel Sison.
The hapless Blazers dropped all their nine assignments in the first round. The scores First Game EAC 76 – Onwubere 16, Laminou 14, Morada 13, Pascua 10, Munsayac 9, Corilla 5, Aguas 4, King 3, Diego 2, Neri 0, Guzman 0, Estacio 0, General 0, Mendoza 0, Serrano 0.
St. Benilde 56 – Young 14, Haruna 13, Fajarito 11, Belgica 4, San Juan 4, Jj Domingo 4, Castor 2, Dixon 2, Pasamante 2, Sta. Maria 0, Js Domingo 0, Pajarillaga 0. Quarterscores: 16-15, 40-33, 53-43, 76-56 Second Game Perpetual Help 71 – Dagangon 20, Akhuetie 11, Singontiko 10, Coronel 9, Pido 8, Eze 5, Hao 4, Dizon 4, Sadiwa 0, Oliveria 0, Gallardo 0, Yuhico 0.
Mapua 51 – Menina 13, Estrella 8, Aguirre 8, Biteng 7, Oraeme 6, Bunag 4, Victoria 2, Eriobu 2, Serrano 1, Orquina 0, Raflores 0, Dela Rosa 0.
Quarterscores: 15-8, 34-18, 48-34, 71-51