MANILA, Philippines – Both the Perpetual Help Altas and the JRU Heavy Bombers picked up crucial victories, scoring upsets over higher-ranked teams in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, October 26, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Despite losing point guard Shawn Orgo the rest of the season due to a shoulder surgery, the Altas rallied in overtime to repulse the Lyceum Pirates, 89-83.
JP Boral led the way for the Altas with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, while skipper Christian Pagaran followed up with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.
The JRU Heavy Bombers, meanwhile, hacked out a 90-86 upset of the fourth-running Letran Knights in the second game.
Mart Barrera dropped 22 points off the bench for the Bombers, who also drew a 19-point effort from Joshua Guiab.
With their separate wins, Perpetual (6-8) and JRU (4-9) kept their slim playoff hopes alive.
“There’s no one player who can fill the role of Shawn, I told my players that this would be a collective effort,” said Perpetual head coach Olsen Racela as his wards pulled through even minus a key cog in Orgo.
“It will be next man up. (Mark) Gojo (Cruz) and Axl Manuel, as well as Justin Thompson will have to pick up the slack,” he added.
The Pirates also played without standout guard JM Bravo, who suffered a horrific on-court collapse in their last outing.
Perpetual almost had the game in the bag in regulation, but Pagaran turned the ball over to Lyceum’s Mclaude Guadaña, which then led to a corner hit from Jonathan Daileg with 1.8 seconds left.
Initially ruled a three, replay showed it was just a two-point bucket, leading to a five-minute extension as the Altas failed to respond with a potential game-winner in the dying seconds.
In overtime, Jearico Nuñez scored some timely baskets to help the Altas close it out in their favor.
Lyceum came out fighting late in regulation behind Guadaña, who helped his side cut an eight-point deficit to just two, 75-77, following a three by Renz Villegas.
Unlike the Altas who survived without a key player, the Knights had a tough time minus star Pao Javillonar — who only played 5 minutes — as he recovers from a severe ankle injury.
Despite the loss, Letran kept the fourth spot with a 7-7 record, while JRU stood near-bottom with a 4-9 slate.
“If we dropped this one, the chance of making the Final Four would shrink even further,” said JRU head coach Louie Gonzalez in Filipino.
“Our chances slightly improved, but making the playoffs is still going to be a long way up. We will approach the remaining contests one game at a time,” he added.
Jimboy Estrada picked up the scoring slack for Letran with 29 points and 7 rebounds in his 32 minutes of action, but coughed up the rock six times.
The Scores
First Game
Perpetual 89 – Boral 18, Pagaran 16, Nuñez 15, Abis 12, Gojo Cruz 9, Manuel 7, Pizarro 6, Montemayor 4, Gelsano 2.
Lyceum 83 – Villegas 23, Barba 17, Daileg 10, Guadaña 9, Moralejo 9, Aviles 5, Peñafiel 4, Montaño 3, Versoza 3, Panelo 0, Gordon 0, Pallingayan 0.
Quarters: 26-25, 46-45, 64-59, 77-77 (reg.), 89-83 (OT).
Second Game
JRU 90 – Barrera 22, Guiab 19, De Leon 10, Argente 9, Ramos 7, Bernardo 7, Sarmiento 7, Raymundo 6, Pangilinan 3, Panapanaan 0, De Jesus 0, Lozano 0, Benitez 0, Mosqueda 0.
Letran 86 – Estrada 29, Miller 16, Cuajao 13, Go 9, Jumao-As 7, Montecillo 6, Nunag 3, Santos 2, Javillonar 1, Dimaano 0.
Quarters: 28-22, 45-48, 63-61, 90-86.
– Rappler.com
