Ralph Salcedo (No. 5) tries to break free from his defender. Photo from Filoil Flying V Sports Facebook account.
MANILA, Philippines — Arellano pounced on an errant-prone Perpeptual Help, 74-65, as both NCAA squads clashed Friday in the 2013 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the Arena in San Juan.
The Chiefs turned the Altlas’ 22 miscues into 23 turnover points and 17 fastbreak points, allowing them to stay a step ahead throughout the game.
Guard Levi Hernandez finished with a team-best 13 points, while Gio Jajalon and James Forrester added 12 apiece for Arellano.
Hernandez drilled two three-pointers in the opening period to give AU a 15-6 lead at the 4:19 mark, and the Chiefs never trailed from there.
“With our set of players, we can now play an uptempo game,” said head coach Koy Banal after the match.
Juneric Baloria sizzled with 22 points but on a losing cause for the Altas, who had a huge disadvantage when it came to the rebounding, 43-56.
The Altas lost Jett Vidal and George Allen to graduation while last season’s revelation, Scottie Earl Thompson was nursing an injury.