Prince Eze’s monster game and two triples from Rey Peralta and Jeffrey Coronel in the extra period netted the University of Perpetual Help Altas an 85-77 win over the San Sebastian College Stags in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The 6’11” Eze finished with 25 points and 23 rebounds for the Altas as they stayed on course in their goal to earn the last seat in the Final Four.
“It shows a lot of character from my players. It all boils down to the execution of our plays, looking for Prince and Edgar Charcos making a much-needed three-point play,” said Altas coach Frankie Lim after they forged their 10th victory in 15 outings.
Eze’s big game in regulation allowed the Altas to charge back from a five-point deficit in the fourth period at 57-62. His three-point play with 2:56 left put the Altas to within 62-64.
Peralta made all of his nine points matter, with his two charities tying the count at 64-all in the next play, keeping the Altas in the thick of the fight.
Alvin Capobres had 18 points for the Stags, while teammate Allyn Bulanadi made 16 with RK Ilagan.
Bulanadi’s trey and Capobre’s driving shot gave SSC a 69-64 lead in the last 1:49, but Jielo Razon, who knocked in 15 points, hit a basket with 1:10 left and Charcos completed a three-point play in the final 40.4 seconds as Perpetual Help tied the count for the last time in regulation, 69-all.
Coronel scored 15 points, including one of two treys which he and Peralta unloaded at the start of the extra period, pushing the Altas on top by six, 75-71, in the last 3:09.
Eze’s split charity with 2:02 to go gave the Altas a seven-point edge, 78-71.
The Stags, with their 6-9 slate, could have won it in regulation, but JM Calma bungled an attempt as time expired.
Earlier in the junior division, Joel Cagulangan fired 24 points for the defending champion La Salle Greenhills Greenies, who turned back the San Beda Red Cubs, 81-78.
The win moved the Greenies a win shy from a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four with their 13-2 card.
Cagulangan’s two freebies with 10.2 ticks to go gave the Greenies enough room to weather San Beda’s repeated comebacks with their 80-77 edge.
“Hats off to San Beda. They almost pushed us to the brink. The boys were resilient towards the latter part of the game,” said LSGH Marvin Bienvenida as the Greenies stayed within range of the no. 1 seeding, while the Red Cubs, with Zach Estacion leading with 13 points, remained at no. 3 with their 10-5 card.
Emman Galman made 30 points for the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas, who stopped the San Sebastian Staglets and improved their record to 5-9.