Games today/Sunday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
12 p.m.- AU vs LPU
2 p.m.- CSB vs Letran
Jielo Razon knocked in 22 points for the University of Perpetual Help Altas, who kept their flickering Final Four hopes alive with an 86-80 stomping of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals on Saturday at the FilOil-EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
Razon struck with seven points in the last quarter, with his timely baskets in the final minute propelling the Altas to their ninth triumph in 17 games in the 99th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
The Altas, with Art Roque delivering 14 points, pushed the Generals out of contention as they slipped behind with their 8-9 win-loss slate.
The Louie Gonzales-coached Altas will remain in contention if they prevail in their final game against the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags on Tuesday.
And this will be on the condition that either College of Saint Benilde, San Beda University, and Jose Rizal University will lose the rest of their remaining games.
Razon’s two charities in the last 10 seconds finalized the score in favor of the Altas.
Meanwhile, the San Beda Red Lions drew important baskets from Yukien Andrada and James Pasyosing in the final period to repulse a stubborn Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 74-69,
The Red Lions, with Andrada leading the way with 18 points, strengthened their Final Four bid with their second straight victory and 10th overall triumph in 16 games.
Jomel Puno shot 13 points for the Lions, who leapfrogged from fifth to a share of third with the College of St. Benilde Blazers.
JL de los Santos tallied 15 points for the Bombers, who fell from no. 4 down to no. 5 with their 10-7 mark.
“Of course a team that’s coached by Coach Louie (Gonzalez) hindi talaga susuko yan hanggang dulo. Yun din sinabi ko sa players sa huddle diba? We have to play until the end. Hindi sila hanggang dulo kami 38 minutes. Tingnan mo nakita sa Mapua namin, we played three quarters and two minutes, nung last eight minutes huminto kami sa both sides of the court. That’s something we learned from that tough loss in Mapua,” said Red Lions coach Yuri Escueta.
The scores:
First Game
San Beda 74- Andrada 18, Puno 13, Cortez 12, Payosing 12, Gonzales 6, Alfaro 6, Royo 3, Jopia 2, Visser 2, Cuntapay 0, Tagle 0.
JRU 69- Delos Santos 15, Argente 15, Guiab 10, Dela Rosa 10, Dionisio 7, Miranda 6, Medina 2, Sarmiento 2, De Leon 2, Arenal 0, Sy 0, Sy 0, Ramos 0, Pabico 0, Mosqueda 0.
Quarterscores: 20-16; 41-35; 59-51; 74-69
Second Game
UPHSD 86- Ramon 22, Roque 14, Pagaran 12, Abis 8, Nunez 7, Nitura 6, Omega 4, Boral 4, Ferreras 3, Barcuma 2, Sebilla 2, Gelsano 2, Orgo 0, Cuevas 0, Movida 0.
EAC 80- Maguliano 23, Gurtiza 15, Ochavo 14, Robin 10, Cosejo 7, Quinal 5, Doria 4, Luciano 1, Angeles 1, Tolentino 0, Loristo 0, Umpad 0, Cosa 0, Balowa 0.
Quarterscores: 24-11; 45-25; 69-54; 86-80.