Perpetual Help Altas in the NCAA Season 97. NCAA/GMA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Perpetual Help clinched the last play-in spot with a 63-60 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College on Friday in NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Altas clinched their fourth win in nine games, qualifying for the play-in, a format instituted by the league to give teams at No. 5 and 6 a shot at making the Final Four.
Perpetual led from start to finish but nearly sputtered in the end as they had to watch EAC’s Kriss Gurtiza’s miss a triple at the buzzer to avoid being forced into overtime.
Under the play-in format, Perpetual will take on No. 6 Arellano University in a do-or-die match at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The winner will then duel with the loser of the match between the No. 3 and No. 4 teams.
The scores
Perpetual (63) — Aurin 14, Omega 13, Pagaran 10, Razon 9, Egan 6, Barcuma 5, Cuevas 4, Martel 2, Sevilla 0, Abis 0.
EAC (60) — Gurtiza 18, Liwag 12, Robin 11, Maguliano 8, Cosejo 5, Ad. Doria 3, Luciano 2, Taywan 1, Quinal 0, Cosa 0, Bunyi 0, Cadua 0.
Quarters: 18-10, 33-26, 48-44, 63-60