PERPETUAL Help showed incredible resilience as it turned back San Sebastian College, 60-52, on Tuesday to solidify its place in the magic four in NCAA Season 100 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
The Altas have continued to draw strength from their combination of youth and veterans in claiming their second straight victory and fourth overall against two defeats.
Battle-scarred Christian Pagaran and Cedrick Abis fired 12 points apiece while rookie sensation Mark Derick Gojo Cruz chipped in 10 points, sending the Stags to their fourth straight setback against two wins.
“Maganda combination nina Gojo (Gojo Cruz) and Pags (Pagaran),” said coach Olsen Racela.
It was an impressive show of grit by the Altas as they weathered every fightback launched by the run-and-gun Stags.
So dominating was the Las Pinas-based school that it only trailed once, 9-8, early in the game before stamping its class the rest of the way and never giving SSC-R a chance to turn it around in its favor.
“Your approach to the game should always be the same, kailangan gutom palagi,” said Racela.
The scores:
First Game
UPHSD 60 – Pagaran 12, Abis 12, Gojo Cruz 10, Gelsano 8, Boral 8, Orgo 6, Pizarro 4, Nuñez 0, Manuel 0, Montemayor 0
SSC-R 52 – Are 11, L. Gabat 8, Escobido 7, R. Gabat 5, Pascual 5, Felebrico 5, Velasco 4, Maliwat 3, Ricio 2, Lintol 2, Aguilar 0, Suico 0, Barroga 0, Cruz 0
Quarterscores: 14-11; 34-28; 48-38; 60-52
Games Wednesday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
12 p.m.- AU vs JRU
2:30 p.m.- Letran vs EAC
