NCAA: Altas overcome Vidal loss, beat Pirates

MANILA, Philippines—Perpetual Help, already without Femi Babayemi, went majority of the game sans main man Jet Vidal and still came away with a win over Lyceum, 64-53, Tuesday in the NCAA Season 88 at the Subic Bay Gym in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Babayemi, the six-foot-seven Nigerian center, served a one-game suspension after getting ejected in the Altas’ loss to Mapua while Vidal took a hard hit late in the second quarter and did not return.

With the win, Perpetual Help tied surging Letran in third place with a 10-6 record.

In the first game, defending champion San Beda solidified its hold of first place following a 65-41 drubbing of Mapua.

Ola Adeogun had 12 points and eight rebounds to lead the Red Lions, who hiked their mark to 14-2.

George Allen came through with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Altas, who went a game ahead of Jose Rizal University, setting up a tight Final Four race with both quads only having two games left.

Perpetual Help, though, will have to go through powerhouse teams San Beda and San Sebastian and may have to win both games to stay in the top four.

The Cardinals officially bowed out of Final Four contention after suffering their 10th loss in 16 games.