Perpetual hitting stride on ‘foundation’ season

John Barba (right) lifts Lyceum to a victory in the other game. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

For a team that has little expectations this season, Perpetual Help has suddenly found itself near the top of the standings.

A 60-52 victory over San Sebastian helped make that happen.

And hunger, too.

“Your approach to the game should always be the same, you should always be hungry (for victories),” Perpetual Help coach Olsen Racela said on Tuesday after the victory in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Early into his first year as Altas coach, Racela had said that his concern was laying the foundation for Perpetual’s program, which will be built over time as the team awaits players serving out residencies and those who have verbalized their commitment to join the squad.

But Racela and the Altas, who are led by a mix of veerans and youngsters, certainly don’t mind of they snag wins along the way.

The latest win came courtesy of Christian Pagaran and Cedrick Abis, who had 12 points each to show the way for the Altas, who also drew 10 points from rookie sensation Mark Gojo Cruz.

“The combination of Gojo (Gojo Cruz) and Pags (Pagaran) was great for us,” Racela said.

The Altas displayed resilience in hosing down every fight-back mustered by the Stags, who turned heads early in the tournament.

Perpetual thus hiked its record to four wins in six outings to stay half a game behind league-leading St. Benilde while San Sebastian, whose hot start has now devolved into a 2-4 (win-loss) slump.

Meanwhile, Lyceum trashed Mapua, 96-81 in the other game.

John Barba had 25 points to lead the Pirates, who caught the Cardinals at 3-2. INQ