The league-leading Perpetual Help Junior Altas cruised to a 103-84 victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Brigadiers in the resumption of the NCAA Season 100 Junior’s Basketball tournament at the EAC Gym.
JD Pagulayan led the Altas with a game-high 21 points, to go with 4 rebounds and an assist, while Jericho Cristino and Lebron Jhames Daep, standing at 6’7”, contributed 17 points each as the Altas clinched a playoff berth in the Final Four with a 6-1 record.
Cristino also grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 2 assists, while Daep secured 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and an assist.
Coach Joph Cleopas’s squad overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half, where it trailed, 42-52. They rallied and closed the gap to 60-61 with 4:045 remaining in the third quarter.
Despite the Brigadiers’ home-court advantage, the Junior Altas’ potent offense proved too much to handle, allowing them to maintain a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter.
The Altas extended their lead to 20 points, 92-72, with 4:32.2 left in the game and held a 95-78 advantage with two minutes remaining.
Pagulayan shot 2-of-10 from three-point range, 4-of-4 from two-points and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line in his 25:20 on the court.
Jan Roluna added 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal.
EJ Castillo led EAC with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.
The Junior Altas’ remaining games are against San Sebastian College on March 25 and defending champion Letran Squires on March 31.
In other games, the Squires defeated the Staglets, 88-84, and the San Beda Red Cubs dominated the Arellano University Braves, 105-68.