Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 29) – The Perpetual Help Altas clinched the sixth seed and the last play-in tournament in NCAA Season 97 after outwitting the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 63-60, on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Kim Aurin exploded in the second half as he scored all of his 14 points in the last 20 minutes of the match to finish the Altas’ elimination round campaign at 4-5.
In the first half, the Altas got the edge as their well-executed team plays overpowered the one-man offense of the Generals, who relied on Kriss Gurtiza in scoring game-high 11 points in the first two quarters.
Perpetual still held the advantage in the whole second half with Aurin and Jielo Razon – who finished with nine points – assuming the scoring cudgels.
But EAC threatened to reverse the result as Gurtiza fired a triple in the last 1:01 of the game for a 60-63 deficit.
In the last minute of the match, both squads displayed their defensive prowess as the Generals executed successful defensive stops against the Altas in the next plays after the Gurtiza shot.
Then it was Perpetual’s turn to have their defensive schemes tested, which paid off after the pressuring Altas defense forced Generals guard Ralph Robin to commit a crucial travelling infraction in the last 4.4 seconds of the contest.
After a timeout called by Altas head coach Myk Saguiguit, the Oliver Bunyi-mentored EAC side was able to hold off Perpetual in the next possession as they handed a turnover from the inbound play of their Las Pinas-based opponents. Gurtiza failed in his outside shot that could have sent the game to overtime.
Mark Omega came up big for the Perpetual win as he produced 13 points and 15 rebounds in the crucial tiff.
Gurtiza finished with 18 points and nine rebounds while Allen Liwag added 12 markers and six boards for EAC, which bowed out of the tournament with a 3-6 slate.
Perpetual will face Arellano University in their do-or-die play-in matchup on Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Scores:
PERPETUAL 63 – Aurin 14, Omega 13, Pagaran 10, Razon 9, Egan 6, Barcuma 5, Cuevas 4, Martel 2, Sevilla 0, Abis 0.
EAC 60 – Gurtiza 18, Liwag 12, Robin 11, Magullano 8, Cosejo 5, Doria 3, Luciano 2, Taywan 1, Quinal 0, Cosa 0, Bunyi 0, Cadua 0.
Quarterscores: 18-10, 33-26, 48-44, 63-60.
