NCAA: Perpetual Help trumps JRU to open campaign
Perpetual Help vs JRU in the NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball. NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Perpetual deployed a stifling defense and free-flowing offense to crush Jose Rizal, 77-56, Tuesday and put its campaign on high gear in the NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball at La Salle Greenhills Gym.
Showing fitness and spirit that belied two years of lockdown, the Altas choked the Heavy Bombers with full-court press regardless of the double-digit leads and never gave their opponents a chance to put up a decent stand.
“We are very happy because we waited for two years for this,” said Perpetual playmaker Jielo Razon in Filipino. “This is big for us because this is only our first game and we won it.”
And while locking putting a tight noose on Jose Rizal, Perpetual let loose Kim Aurin who drilled in five three points in the first half alone, allowing the Altas to pull away by as much as 66-38 early in the fourth quarter.
Razon formed the formidable back-court with Aurin as he took charge in scoring in the second half as the Altas bolstered their bid to make the Final Four that they last did three seasons back.
Aurin finished with 20 points and was backstopped by Jeff Egan and Razon who added 14 and 13, respectively.
The Heavy Bombers didn’t help themselves except for JL Delos Santos who finished with 17 points as he tried to singlehandedly bring zest into his team. They only made 13 of 30 free throws throughout the match.
