MANILA, Philippines — University of Perpetual Help rode on Juneric Baloria, Justine Alano and Harold Arboleda to beat University of the East, 83-78, in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup Monday at the San Juan Arena.
Baloria, Alano and Arboleda combined for 74 points. Guard Baloria led the way with 28 points, big man Alano scored 26 and Arboleda, the do-it-all forward, came away with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds.
“Walang star sa team namin kaya maganda yung takbo (Our team has no star player that’s why it’s running so well),” said Perpetual Help head coach Aric del Rosario, who also said that he’s still not convinced with his team’s play despite its impressive start.
But at least for this game, the Altas looked like a team stacked with star players in Baloria, Alano and Arboleda, who nearly had a perfect shooting from long range missing only one of his six attempts.
Baloria also took on the challenge of guarding one of the best guards in the UAAP in Roi Sumang.
“Pressure din sa akin kasi sikat si Roi (There’s pressure for me because Roi is a famous player),” the five-foot-11 Baloria admitted.
“Pag napapanood ko siyang maglaro, ang hirap bantayan, kaya gusto ko yung ngayon kasi nacha-challenge ako para ipakita ko na kaya ko rin (When I watch him play he’s really hard to guard that’s why I like that today I feel challenged to show that I’m also capable of doing the things he can),” Baloria also said.
And Baloria was able to show what he does best as he led the Altas’ charge in the fourth quarter that broke a closely-contested game open.
Sumang paced the Red Warriors with 16 points while Charles Mammie had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
RELATED STORY
Rivals Perpetual Help, San Sebastian clash in V-League