PERPETUAL Help kept alive its hopes of advancing to the play-in round while showing Lyceum the door yesterday.
The Altas held off the gritty Pirates 72-69 for their third win in the 97th NCAA basketball tournament at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
Kim Aurin scattered a game-high 22 points, on top of five rebounds for Perpetual, while Jielo Razon chipped in 14 markers and five boards.
Cris Pagaran also had 12 and seven for the Altas, who snapped a three-game losing skid, counting a 71-78 defeat to San Beda University five days ago, and improved to 3-5.
Lyceum failed to score a fitting follow-up to its 70-66 victory over Arellano University last April 22 and fell to 2-6.
The drastically overhauled Pirates will not reach the Final Four for the first time since 2016.
In the second game, Arellano University whipped Emilio Aguinaldo College 70-55 to also remain in the hunt for a slot in the play-in.
Big man Justin Arana notched a double-double of 21 points and 18 rebounds for the Chiefs, while Gelo Sablan had 12 markers and seven caroms.
The big win enabled Arellano to rise to 3-5 and create a four-team tie with the Generals, Perpetual, and San Sebastian College for fifth.
EAC came off a 62-83 setback at the hands of defending champion Letran last April 20.
Playing in a virtual do-or-die, Perpetual coach Myk Saguiguit credited his veterans for showing the way.
“Iyon nga ang sabi ko sa kanila heading into this game, gusto naming itapak iyong first step (to the play-in) so luckily nakuha namin itong panalo against Lyceum. Talagang trabaho nila iyan (veterans to step up) kasi iyong roster namin ngayon, puro bata talaga,” Saguiguit said.
“Wala kaming na-experience na liga sa labas, talagang NCAA lang. Malaking bagay na iyong mga senior player ko ay nagtatrabaho,” he added.
The Altas took a 41-36 lead at the half and still enjoyed a 55-52 cushion heading into the payoff period.
Clutch baskets by Aurin and Razon Perpetual gave Perpetual a 72-67 lead with 1:31 left in the fourth canto, but Omar Larupay scored on a layup that left the door ajar for Lyceum with 33.4 seconds remaining.
Lean Martel missed on what could have sealed the deal for the Altas, giving the Pirates one last shot but Enoch Valdez committed a costly turnover on his pass to Mclaude Guadaña, 16.6 ticks left.
Omar Larupay was the lone bright spot for Lyceum with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
“Masaya ako kasi nagkaron pa kami ulit ng chance ahead sa game with JRU,” Chiefs tactician Cholo Martin said. “Mahalaga talaga ito para sa amin.”
Ralph Robin led the Generals with 13 points, while Marwin Taywan contributed 12.
