Perpetual Help still perfect, rips FEU

BRIGHT Akhuetie fueled a strong windup as Perpetual Help turned back Far Eastern University, 70-64, yesterday to stretch its unbeaten run to five games in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Akhuetie dropped 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Gabriel Dagangon, Prince Eze and NCAA MVP Scottie Thompson also came through to help the Altas pull away from a slim 58-57 edge in the last seven minutes.

“We were just patient, whether it was on offense or defense,” coach Aric del Rosario said of his Altas, the Group A leader and only unbeaten team in the 18-team field.

In Group B, Centro Escolar University pulled off another upset with an 82-77 triumph over University of Santo Tomas.

Big men Alfred Batino and Rodrigue Ebondo carried the fight for the Scorpions—who just came off a huge win over NCAA champion San Beda—even as they played minus top  guard Samboy de Leon and three other standouts due to disciplinary reasons.

“The win showed how hard these boys work,” CEU coach Egay Macaraya said after the Scorpions claimed the solo lead in Group B with a 5-1 slate.

The Tamaraws slipped to 3-3, while the Tigers absorbed their third loss in five games.

The scores:

First Game

PERPETUAL  70—Akhuetie 28, Dagangon 9, Eze 8, Thompson 6, Elorpe 4, Ylagan 4, Gallardo 3, Coronel 0, Dizon 0, Bantayan 0, Sadiwa 0.

FEU 64—Tolomia 15, Escoto Ru. 15, Arong 11, Jose 11, Pogoy 6, Orizu 4, Bienes 2, Iñigo 0, Tamsi, 0, Escoto Ri. 0, Trinidad 0, Roxas 0, Comboy 0, Liwag 0.

Quarters: 15-20, 35-39, 54-50, 70-64

Second Game

CEU 82—Batino 20, Ebondo 13, Casino 12, Anunciacion 12, De Leon 10, Celso 10, Abundo 5, Aquino 0, Saber 0, Aranas 0

UST 77—Daquioag 34, Ferrer 28, Lao 6, Lee 3, Bonleon 3, Sheriff 2, Kakonda 1, Huang 0, Caunan 0, Garrido 0, Faundo 0, Mayor 0

Quarters: 13-20, 40-47, 63-57, 82-77