Altas, Knights score in respective NCAA season debuts
By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno
San Juan, MM—Perpetual Help banked on the endgame heroics of Scottie Thompson and Gab Dagangon to clobber Lyceum, 70-61, in the opener of their NCAA Season 91 campaign at the FilOil Flying V Arena on Tuesday.
Thompson and Dagangon tallied 14 of the Altas’ last 16 points to withstand a gallant stand by the Pirates, who appeared to be in control early on.
Lyceum, playing its first game with Topex Robinson at the helm, went off to a good start, leading 16-9 after the first period.
Perpetual Help, however, got its act going in the second, outscoring its opponent, 20-8, to take a 29-24 halftime advantage.
The Pirates rallied anew in the third quarter and took a 44-39 lead, but the Altas closed the period on a 7-2 run to tie the game, 46-all.
Both teams went toe-to-toe in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter until six straight points from Thompson opened the game-deciding 16-4 blast by Perpetual Help. Dagangon helped seal the win with a crucial jumper with 52.1 seconds left and two charities 31.8 seconds later for the final tally.
Dagangon and Thompson finished with 12 points each with Thompson, the reigning league MVP, completing a double-double with ten rebounds.
Prince Eze carried the fight in the opening moments for the Altas, scoring 14 of his game-high 21 points in the first half. He also had ten rebounds and three blocks.
Shaq Alanes sizzled from beyond the arc for the Pirates, making four triples en route to a team-high 13 markers.
Later in the day, Letran officially began the Aldin Ayo Era in the league with an 82-53 rout of CSB.
The Knights went on a tear early on, opening a ten-point lead against the Blazers after the first quarter. They immediately turned the game to a blowout later on.
Mark Cruz led Letran with 16 points, while Bong Quinto added 14. Kevin Racal made a successful comeback from an ACL injury and contributed six markers.
Jonathan Grey also had 16 points for CSB, which lost Paolo Taha and Mark Romero to graduation.
Box Scores:
First Game
Perpetual Help 70-Eze 21, Dagangon 12, Thompson 12, Akhuetie 9, Coronel 6, Elopre 5, Ylagan 3, Oliveria 2, Gallardo 0, Dizon 0
Lycum 61-Alanes 13, Baltazar 11, Nguidjol 11, Bulawan 11, Mbida 8, Taladua 3, Gabayni 2, Soliman 2, Lugo 0, Malabanan 0, Lacastesantos 0, Ayaay 0, Sunga 0
Quarterscores: 9-16, 29-24, 46-46, 70-61
Second Game
Letran 82–Cruz 16, Quinto 14, Nambatac 14, Sollano 10, Balanza 7, Racal 6, Calvo 5, Balagasay 5, Apreku 4, Dela Peña 4, Luib 0
CSB 53–Grey 16, J.J. Domingo 10, Ongteco 8, Saavedra 7, Nayve 5, Jonson 4, Sta. Maria 2, Deles 1, Castor 0, Fajarito 0
Quarterscores: 20-10, 37-24, 58-37, 82-53
