NCAA: Perpetual Help escapes JRU in third OT

MANILA, Philippines – George Allen made the most out of the seven minutes he spent in the court.

Allen nailed an uncontested lay-up at the buzzer as a gutsy Perpetual Help muscled its way to maiden 79-77 victory over Jose Rizal University in triple overtime Monday in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Allen, who played his first game back after hurting his ankle in the Altas’ first match, caught a timely pass from Jaycee Asuncion after a mad scramble as time was winding down in the third extra period.

“We were not even supposed to play him [Allen] today because of the injury, but we had no other choice,” said the neophyte head coach Perpetual Help Jimwell Gican, who took over the mentoring reins only at the start of the season.

“I am proud of my boys for the effort and their heart. I just told them to fight,” the 32-year-old Gican added.

Marksman Jet Vidal carried the scoring cudgels for the Altas with 21 points on five three points in 44 minutes, while Allen scored four points all in the third OT.

Unheralded rookie Earl Thompson, hailing from Davao, also came up with huge blocks down the stretch and finished with 10 points.

The Bombers, who dropped to 2-3, even had a chance to snatch the victory but the balled slipped off Jeckster Apinan’s hands and rolled straight to Asuncion.

JRU was bailed out by a buzzer-beating alley-oop by wingman John Lopez at the end of the first OT and a crucial free throw by Apinan in the second OT.

Lopez and Apinan scored 14 points each in a losing cause while Ronnel Carampil topscored for the Bombers with 17.

Meanwhile, San Sebastian sustained its hot streak by trumping Lyceum, 82-57.

Calvin Abueva, considered one of the most dominant players in the amateur ranks, muscled his way to 28 points, 12 rebounds along with three blocks for San Sebastian.

The Stags kept its spotless record with five wins just as the Pirates picked up their third loss.