ARELLANO U and Perpetual Help hammered out contrasting victories yesterday to forge a four-way tie at second spot, even as Emilio Aguinaldo College snapped a five-game slide in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.
With the backcourt duo of Jio Jalalon and Kent Salado doing most of the damage, the Chiefs kept the St. Benilde Blazers winless with a 70-59 rout, after the Altas held off the Lyceum Pirates, 71-68, for their fifth win in seven games.
Jalalon and Salado combined for 27 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists for the Chiefs, who seized command after holding the Blazers to just four points in the first period.
With identical 5-2 records, the Chiefs and Altas pulled level with Letran and Mapua in second spot, two games behind unbeaten San Beda.
The Generals picked up their first win in more than a month after a 73-67 trouncing of the San Sebastian Stags.
Remy Morada and Hamadou Laminou pumped in 18 points each as the Generals notched their first win since their 64-57 conquest of the Pirates last June 26.
Bright Akhuetie imposed his will with 10 of his 13 points in the final period, where the Altas held the Pirates scoreless for six minutes.
“It was our defense that helped us and we never gave up,” said Perpetual Help coach Gimwell Gican in Filipino. “Bright (Akhuetie) also stepped up big even though he struggled almost the whole game.”
Gab Dagangon split his two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining, allowing the Pirates to have one last chance to tie the game, but Shaq Alanes, who drained a triple the play before, watched his triple hit the back of the rim as time expired.
After outplaying Akhuetie in the first three quarters, Cameroonian Mike Nzeusseu faded in the fourth quarter.
Nzeusseu still finished with 18 points, 11 boards and four blocks for the Pirates, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped while falling to 3-4.
The Altas also drew a solid game from Flash Sadiwa, who had six points and four assists, backstopping Keith Pido who was hounded by foul trouble.
The scores:
First Game
EAC 73—Laminou 18, Morada 18, Onwubere 13, King 9, Corilla 5, Munsayac 4, Serrano 4, Neri 2, Diego 0, Guzman 0, Pascua 0
SAN SEBASTIAN 67—Calisaan 15, Ilagan 11, Bulanadi 7, Serajosef 7, Capobres 6, Mercado 6, Costelo 4, Fabian 4, Gayosa 3, Baetiong 2, Quipse 2, Johnson 0, Valdez 0
Quarters: 13-21, 30-38, 53-51, 73-67
Second Game
PERPETUAL HELP 71—Dagangon 16, Akhuetie 13, Eze 10, Pido 10, Coronel 7, Sadiwa 6, Oliveria 4, Singontiko 3, Hao 2, Dizon 0, Yuhico 0
LYCEUM 68—Nzeusseu 18, Ayaay 15, Alban 8, Alanes 7, Caduyac 7, Marata 3, Serafico 2, Malabanan 0, Rubite 0
Quarters: 19-21, 36-40, 54-55, 71-68