UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help got a big play from Gab Dangangon in the endgame and forced a turnover that carried the Altas to an 87-83 triumph over San Beda College Friday in their Final Four showdown at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Dangangon led with 27 points, including a layup in the last 19.7 seconds, one of three big plays which allowed the Altas to force a rubber match with the Red Lions in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
The 6’2” Dangangon scored off a pass by Bright Akhuetie after evading the defensive plays of Robert Bolick as the Altas went on to shatter an 83-all deadlock.
SBC’s three-point specialist AC Soberano missed a triple in the last 1:35, and the Altas took advantage of this, keeping ball possession in the remaining time.
Keith Pido, who only had six points, drew a foul from Akhuetie, and sank two gift shots with 3.4 seconds left to finalize the count, handing the Altas their first semis win over the Red Lions since their last storied Final Four clash in 2004.
In the junior division Final Four, second-seeded Malayan High School of Science Red Robins returned to the finals with their 88-81 beating of the La Salle Greenhills Greenies.
Point guard Jayson Danas scored 10 points, including three crucial free throws in the closing seconds to help the Arellano University Braves escape with an 89-84 triumph over the defending champion and top seeded San Beda Red Cubs.