The Perpetual Help Altas avenged their first-round loss to the Letran Knights, securing a 71-61 victory in the opening game of the NCAA Season 100 Men’s Basketball Tournament second round on Sunday at the FilOil Eco Oil Centre in San Juan City.
Team captain Christian Pagaran led the Altas with a game-high 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block, while rookie sensation Mark Gojo Cruz contributed 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.
The Altas dominated the game from start to finish, building a 22-13 lead in the first quarter and never relinquishing their advantage.
This win marked a significant turnaround for the Altas, who had suffered a four-game losing streak prior to the game.
With the win, the Altas improved to 5-6, positioning themselves for a potential playoff push in the second half of the season.
“Sa Letran start ng losing streak four games, sana Letran din start ng win streak,” said a relieved UPHSD coach Olsen Racela.
Letran’s Sherick Estrada flirted with a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, but was tossed out after receiving his second technical foul with less than three minutes to go in the game.
That ejection should be costly for Estrada, who was disqualified for any individual awards for his lapse of judgment.
The Knights stumbled to their second loss in a row and fourth overall against six triumphs.
