Altas gift new coach with win

PERPETUAL’S Nosa Omorogbe barrels into John Azores of Lyceum in fourth-quarter action of yesterday’s game. August dela Cruz

Perpetual Help welcomed new coach Aric del Rosario with an 82-70 victory over Lyceum last night to kick off its campaign in NCAA men’s basketball at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Powered by Jet Vidal, Earl Thompson and Nigerian Nosa Omorogbe, the Altas pulled away in the final quarter to complete a winning start for the returning Del Rosario, who is best remembered for guiding the University of Santo Tomas Tigers to four consecutive UAAP championships from 1993 to 1996.

“I was very nervous it felt like I was starting over again,” said the 72-year-old Del Rosario,  whose team finished ninth last year.

Perpetual actually won its season-opening game for the first time since 2007.

“There’s still a lot of things to fix with this team,” said Del Rosario.

Vidal fired 17 points, five of them in the last quarter when the Altas launched a 25-16 spurt to seal the triumph.

In the second game, Jose Rizal ripped Arellano, 77-65, to rise to 2-0. Arellano dropped to 0-2.

The scores:

First Game (Srs)

PERPETUAL 82—Vidal 17, Thompson 16, Omorogbe 14, Paulino 9, Babayemi 6, Allen 6, Jolangcob 5, Alano 5, Arboleda 2, Elopre 2, Asuncion 0.

LYCEUM 70—Cayabyab 17, Ko 11, Francisco 11, Zamora 9, Laude 8, Ambohot 4, Guevarra 4, Azores 4, Garcia 2, Edding 0.

Quarters: 19-14, 39-36, 57-54, 82-70

Second Game

JOSE RIZAL 77—Matute 29, Lopez 12, Villarias 11, Almario 6, Salaveria 4, Mabulac 4, Monserat 4, Carampil 4, Maconocido 3, Porter 0, Munez 0, Camasura 0, Mendoza 0, Dela Paz 0.

ARELLANO 65—Pinto 12, Acidre 10, Cadavis 8, Zulueta 8, Hernandez 7, Forrester 7, Bangga 5, Salcedo 4, Caperal 4, Valera 0.

Quarters: 21-17, 38-36, 59-52, 77-65