PBA IMAGES
University of Perpetual Help leaned on a strong third quarter and showed endgame poise to turn back AMA Online Education, 89-81 Monday in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at JCSGO Gym in Cubao.
Prince Eze scattered 22 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks for the Altas, who ended their three-game losing slide and stay alive in the playoff hunt with a 3-5 card.
Rey Anthony Peralta exploded for 12 of his 17 markers in the third quarter, where Perpetual built a 25-point lead, 69-44, and seemed primed to cruise to the blowout victory.
He also had six rebounds and six assists in the win.
Unfortunately for the Altas, they could not hold on to the lead as the Titans mounted a huge fightback in the fourth quarter behind James Martinez, who cut the lead down to as low as five, 84-79, with 1:57 remaining, before John Rey Villanueva drilled in a corner three followed by an Eze bucket to douse the rally.
“We relaxed. And the players wanted to score,” rued coach Frankie Lim on the near-collapse. “We just have to be unselfish, just try to get the win instead.”
Villanueva went 3-of-8 from three to finish with 13 points, while Edgar Charcos also got 13 markers, eight assists, and six rebounds for Perpetual.
Robbie Manalang led the also-ran AMA (1-7) with 23 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while Martinez dropped 13 of his 18 markers in that failed fourth quarter uprising as the Titans suffered their fourth straight defeat.
The scores:
PERPETUAL 89 — Eze 22, Peralta 17, Charcos 13, Villanueva 13, Precillas 10, Coronel 8, Tiburcio 3, Salvador 2, Mangalino 1, Antonio 0, Aurin 0, Pido 0, Tamayo 0.
AMA ONLINE EDUCATION 81 — Manalang 23, Martinez 18, Lao 15, Antonares 10, C. Escalambre 9, Quijano 3, Taganas 2, J. Escalambre 1, Garcia 0, Velasquez 0.
Quarters: 22-18, 41-36, 70-51, 89-81.