Grade 11 JD Pagulayan turned in a double-double performance to lead the Perpetual Help Junior Altas to a pulsating, come-from-behind 91-90 win against the defending champion Letran Squires in Game 2 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 Junior Basketball Finals at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City on Wednesday.
The Junior Altas of Coach Joph Cleopas trailed by as much as 18 points and closed the gap by just nine at the half, 59-50, before unleashing a huge third-quarter rally to only trail by two at 73-75 entering the final period.
With the win, the Altas bounced back from an 80-97 loss handed to them by the defending titlists last Saturday to set up a do-or-die Game 3 for all the marbles on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the same venue.
Do-it-all forward Amiel Acido was named MVP after also barging into the Mythical 5 along with his teammates LeBron Jhames Daep and Rookie of the Year Mark Gojo Cruz, Letran’s George Diamante Jr. and EJ Castillo of Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Acido scored 19 points, including 14 in the second half where the Junior Altas completed their mighty comeback.
MVP Acido also had 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals, while Cruz had 16 points, 7 boards, 4 assists and a block.
They were ably backed up by Pagulayan, who tallied 23 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and a steal to key the win for the Junior Altas.
June Silorio of Letran scored 20 points and hauled 6 rebounds, while Diamante had a double-double of 18 points and 15 boards.
