NCAA: Jielo Razon delivers on promise to lead Perpetual Help to victory

Perpetual Help’s Jielo Razon reacts during a game against San Sebastian in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball tournament. NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Perpetual Help head coach Myk Saguiguit turned to his old reliable in Jielo Razon to lead the Altas’ comeback on Saturday.

Razon didn’t disappoint, scoring eight of his team-high 14 points to spearhead Perpetual Help’s fourth-quarter rally, much to the delight of his mentor Saguiguit.

“Razon is like my adopted son. Since high school, he’s been my player. Any given day where we have this situation, he is our trusted guy,” Saguiguit said after a 61-57 victory over San Sebastian for his team’s third win of the season.

“He promised me in this game that we will win. He told me ‘coach don’t worry, we’ll win this game.’”

The fourth-year guard shot four of nine attempts from the field and also had two steals.

“Our loss to Lyceum really hurt so the day before I told him I wouldn’t let us lose twice in a row,” Razon said. 

The Altas standout notched a double-double in their meltdown loss to Lyceum on Wednesday with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Razon said he did not want a repeat of that defeat, so he made sure to take matters into his own hands in the final frame.

“All I was thinking [in the fourth quarter] was we needed to win. That’s the only thing on my mind.”

Razon also stepped up with Altas’ leader Kim Aurin unable to suit up for the Altas due to fever.

“We don’t have a go-to guy for this game (Aurin). Our go-to guy was definitely coach Myk. We stuck to his system,” told Razon.