Jiovani Jalalon of Arellano lost his balance as he charges into Harold Arboleda of Perpetual. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
KEITH Agovida, who once shot 82 points in an NCAA high school game, has seen his role as explosive scorer reduced with the Arellano Chiefs. But the reed-thin forward remains just as effective offensive-wise.
Agovida continued his solid play as the Chiefs extended their winning streak to four games with an emphatic 97-85 victory over the Perpetual Help Altas in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament before a huge Saturday crowd at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The former NCAA juniors scoring record-holder unloaded 22 points to lead four other players in double figures as the Chiefs zoomed to their fifth win in six games and tightened their hold of second spot.
But it wasn’t just the 6-foot-2 Agovida, who made sure that the Chiefs sustained their best start since joining the league in 2009.
John Pinto had 19 points, including 15 in the second half, while Jiovani Jalalon and Levi Hernandez also sparkled anew, combining for 20 in the second half and enabling the Chiefs to pull away from the hard-fighting Altas.
The Chiefs proved unforgiving on the defensive end, choking the Altas with their press, while Pinto attacked the paint at will and often found Agovida for close-range baskets.
“I didn’t expect this,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera of his team’s superb start to the season. “I thought it would take awhile for the players to trust each other in the team, but I’m happy we’ve developed some chemistry.”
Agovida scored his 82 in 2008 while playing for the Jose Rizal U Light Bombers. The record was broken by another Light Bomber, Joshua Saret, who fired 89 in 2009.
It was the Altas’ second straight defeat as they fell to a share of fifth spot with the San Sebastian Stags. But for awhile, the Altas kept the Chiefs at bay with their three-point shooting, knocking in six in the first half.
But that outside shooting deserted them in the last two periods, where they made just one of 20 attempts in the second half.
The Chiefs were quick to pounce with 12 fastbreak points in the second half, where they also shot 62 percent from the field.
“It was already down to them (players) when it came to reading the defense,” said Codiñera. “I give them leeway as long as it’s within the parameters of our offense.”
Pinto, who also had a season-high eight assists, powered the breakaway as the Chiefs turned a 43-51 deficit into a 72-64 lead with 8:49 to go following a layup by Hernandez.
The Altas last threatened at 69-72 with a Justin Alano undergoal stab before Pinto knocked in a triple and scored four of the next six points, capped by a layup for an 81-71 advantage with 4:14 remaining.
The scores:
ARELLANO 97—Agovida 22, Pinto 19, Jalalon 16, Hernandez 14, Enriquez 11, Salcedo 4, Dioncee 4, Ortega 3, Nicholls 2, Gumaru 1, Bangga 1, Ciriacruz 0, Palma 0, Caperal 0.
PERPETUAL HELP 85—Thompson 25, Arboleda 24, Baloria 18, Jolangcob 7, Alano 5, Oliviera 2, Dizon 2, Lucente 2, Ylagan 0, Bantayan 0, Gallardo 0.
Quarters: 22-21, 41-45, 68-64, 97-85