THE University of Perpetual Help Altas found the right formula to beat the Arellano University Chiefs, 76-62, yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.
Third year player Keith Pido prevailed in his one-on-one duel against veteran guard Jiovani Jalalon, while rookie Daryl Singontiko’s triples in the final period helped power the Altas to their ninth win in 13 games in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.
The 5’11” Pido, kept a tight watch on Jalalon, held him to just three points in the last 10 minutes and hit back-to-back baskets which put the Altas ahead, 62-53, midway in the final quarter.
Singontiko canned three treys in the final 1:02, with his last handing the Altas a 74-60 spread.
Their efforts allowed the Altas to post their second straight win and solidify their hold of third at 9-4.
The Chiefs, with Kent Salado banging in 22 points and Jalalon adding 19, absorbed their first loss after scoring seven consecutive wins.
They stayed firmly in second with their 10-3 slate.
“I saw that he was the only one who could stop Jalalon. It was a difficult situation. He had to contain the No. 1 point guard in the league,” said Chiefs coach Jimwell Gican.
In the junior division, the Arellano University Braves got big plays from Guilmer de la Torre and Aaron Fermin in the last canto to outplay the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas, 92-76, and move into the solo lead at 13-1.
The Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers banked on the free throws of Maui Cruz in the last 35 seconds to beat Lyceum, 78-76, and hike their mark to 3-11.
De la Torre shot 36 points, including 10 in the fourth while Fermin made 12 of his 18 points in the last 10 minutes to help pull the Braves out of a close 62-59, third quarter lead.
A triple and a charity from de la Torre in the last 7:17 saw the Chiefs taking a 75-63 edge, while Fermin’s three-point play, in the remaining two minutes, increased their advantage to 14, 88-74.
“I told the players that we could not afford to lose that way. We will not achieve our goals if we lost in that manner,” said Braves coach Tylon Darjuan.
Game Monday
(Junior games at the Arena)
9 a.m. LSGH vs JRU
10:45 a.m. San Beda vs Mapua
12:30 p.m. Arellano vs LPU
2:15 p.m. San Sebastian vs UPHSD
4 p.m. EAC vs Letran