BY ABBY TORALBA
PERPETUAL Help dismantled reigning three-time champion Letran yesterday 74-59 for its second straight win in the 99th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Arthur Roque tallied a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Altas, while Jelo Razon and Christian Pagaran had 12 markers each.
Perpetual went into the match armed with a 64-50 drubbing of San Sebastian College three days ago and improved to 3-4.
The Knights failed to bounce back from a 71-77 loss to Mapua University last Wednesday and remained winless with a 0-7 record.
“Actually, ang sinabi ko sa mga players ko, iyong five games sa start namin, with the win against Arellano parang hindi ko pa rin makuha iyong groove ng mga players, so going up against San Sebastian, ang sabi ko sa kanila, kalimutan natin, let’s treat those five games as tune-up lang natin,” Altas coach Myk Saguiguit said. “Going here, ang sabi ko mag-plus 20 (efficiency) lang kayo sa game na ginawa ninyo sa San Sebastian, I think, we can overcome Letran.”
Earlier, the Golden Stags blasted the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals 86-70 to rediscover their winning ways.
Raymart Escobido scored a game-high 23 points on four three-pointers for San Sebastian, while Jessie Sumoda had a double-double of 14 markers and 10 rebounds.
James Una also added 13 points as the Stags raised their card to 3-4 in a tie with Perpetual.
“Siguro, medyo struggling lang kami sa pag-adjust sa new system, ako din as a coach adjusting din sa NCAA games. Medyo iba iyong labanan. Kami nasa stage kami ngayon ng learning. Every day is a learning process, win or lose,” San Sebastian tactician John Kallos said. “Siguro, iyon lang, tapos today nag-respond lang iyong mga bata. Nagtiwala sila sa bawat isa and sa sistemang mayroon kami.”
King Gurtiza paced EAC, which slipped to 4-3, with 20 points, while JP Maguliano contributed 14 and 13.
Ralph Robin and Nat Cosejo combined for 25 markers for the Generals.
Vince Cuajao carried the fight for Letran with 15 points, while Kurt Reyson and Kobe Monje got 12 and 10, respectively.
In the third game, Prince Carlos and Miguel Oczon stepped up in the fourth quarter as College of St. Benilde edged Arellano University 72-66.
Carlos and Oczon poured in a combined 15 points in the final period that helped the Blazers bag their third win in row and fourth overall in seven starts and a place at No. 4 alongside Jose Rizal University and EAC.
Mapua is leading the way at No. 1 with a 6-1 record, followed by Lyceum with a 6-2 mark and San Beda at No. 3 with a 4-2 card.
Oczon finished with 16 points, while Carlos had 15 laced with five caroms and seven assists.
The Chiefs fell to 1-6.