Altas slay Chiefs, bag Fr. Martin title

MANILA, Philippines—Perpetual Help drew strength from its African import to outlast NCAA rival Arellano, 79-70, over the weekend in the 11th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament finals at Far Eastern University gym in Manila.

Nigerian Akhuete Bright bulldozed his way to 18 points, including clutch hits in the fourth quarter, to power the Altas to their second championship in the league after topping last year’s Summer Cup edition.

“Arellano lost steam in the end,” said Lester del Rosario, son and assistant of Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario.

Earl Scottie Thompson, the reigning NCAA MVP, and Kenneth Oliveria produced 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Bright, Thompson and Oliveria made key plays on both ends of the court down the stretch as Perpetual turned a 67-68 deficit to a win.