Perpetual Help’s Kim Aurin. Photo from Filoil
MANILA, Philippines-A highly motivated University of Perpetual Help unloaded a late rally to overcome Mapua, 80-77, in Group A of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup at San Juan Arena.
Altas coach Mike Saguiguit said his team’s 95-83 loss to the Cardinals in NCAA Season 97 fueled their winning effort on Tuesday in a game where they came back from a double-digit deficit in the second half.
“The last time we played Mapua we were badly beaten. It was in the elimination round, their lead against us was high. I told them, if it happened again, they (Mapua) might look at us differently and their confidence might get too high,” Saguiguit said after the Altas posted their second win in five games.
That was the case in the first half as Perpetual found itself trailing, 49-35, at the intermission before the Altas battled back.
Still playing catchup midway through the final frame, Perpetual went on a pivotal 12-3 run to take a 77-73 lead with 1:19 left.
The Cardinals still had a chance to force overtime in the waning seconds but Brian Lacap misfired on a potential game-tying triple
Kim Aurin led the Altas with 18 points while Rey Barcuma also helped their cause with 13 while Jielo Razon and Cyrus Nitura contributed 12 apiece.
Cyrus Cuenco had and Toby Agustin had 18 and 14 points, respectively, for Mapua, which remained winless in five games.