NCAA: Cedrick Abis nails clutch 3 as Perpetual scrapes past Mapua

Perpetual’s Cedrick Abis celebrates. –NCAA/GMA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Perpetual Help escaped Mapua for a 79-77 win in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena on Friday.

Cedrick Abis pulled the Altas out of trouble with a go-ahead three-point shot with 26.1 seconds to go, helping his team salvage their second victory after botching the lead in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals had a chance to tie or win the game in the next possession but Perpetual Help pressured the Season 97 finalists for a 24-second shot clock violation .

Abis finished with 11 points for Perpetual Help, which also relied on Kim Aurin, who finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Jielo Razon and Marcus Nitura also scored 15 and 13, respectively in the win.

The Altas, who now hold a 2-2 win-loss record, sat comfortably in the driver’s seat, 73-66, in the midway point of the fourth quarter before the Cardinals went on 11-3 run to snatch the advantage, 77-76, with 1:09 left.

They bounced back from an 81-64 setback to St. Benilde on Tuesday.

Arvin Gamboa led Mapua, which dropped to a 1-3, with 12 markers and seven boards. Paolo Hernandez and Jopet Soriano scattered 11 apiece while Adrian Nocum and Warren Bonifacio had 10 to their names in a losing effort.

The Scores:

PERPETUAL 79 — Aurin 18, Razon 15, Nitura 13, Abis 11, Roque 9, Omega 9, Flores 4, Barcuma 0, Martel 0, Cuevas 0, Orgo 0, Nunez 0.

MAPUA 77 — Gamboa 12, Hernandez 11, Soriano 11, Nocum 10, Bonifacio 10, Pido 9, Lacap 8, Garcia 4, Cuenco 2, Agustin 0, Mercado 0. Quarters: 20-24, 38-41, 60-55, 79-77.