NCAA: Altas shut down Chiefs, snap 3-game skid

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of Perpetual Help shut down Arellano University in the first half en route to a 57-45 win in the NCAA Season 94 men’s basketball tournament Tuesday night at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Altas held the Chiefs to just 14 points in the first two quarters before holding them off in the fourth quarter to end a three-game slide and pull within half a game behind College of St. Benilde for fourth place.

Prince Eze dominated with 20 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks to power the Altas, who also welcomed their starting point guard Edgar Charcos back.

“Charcos really plays a big part in our system and we took care of our big lead,” said Perpetual Help coach Frankie Lim, whose squad improved to 6-5.

“We made good stops and after that we ran the fastbreaks well. We got a lot of points from that and they (Arellano) just broke down,” Lim said.

Charcos returned after missing two games due to a hyperextended knee and finished with six points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals in close to 34 minutes.

The Altas pulled away in the second quarter where they held the Chiefs (4-7) to only four points. They led by as much as 27 points and limited Arellano to just 18 percent (13-of-72) from the field.

Michael Canete was the lone bright spot for the Chiefs after posting 15 points and 13 rebounds.