Altas limit Pirates to season low tally

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help shut down Lyceum to a league-worst output and cruised to a 70-42 romp to firm up its hold of third place in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

The Altas rode on a fiery second quarter run to race away to a 20-point lead then clamped down on defense in the second half to limit the Pirates to a season-low output and notch their eighth win against three losses the previous low was the 47 points scored by the EAC Chiefs in a losing stand to JRU Bombers, 47-67.

John Ylagan drilled in five triples for a career-best 15 points, while Nigerian Prince Eze stepped up after Bright Akhuetie suffered a shoulder injury, scoring 18 points and hauling down 19 rebounds with six shot blocks to boot.

Reigning MVP Scottie Thompson turned in his fourth triple-double in the season with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Altas bounced back from a tough loss to the Mapua Cardinals, 65-70, last week to close in on joint leaders San Beda and Letran (9-2). Lyceum fell to 3-8.

Earlier, Arellano University rebounded from a 112-114 double overtime loss to Jose Rizal U last week with an 86-82 triumph over upset-conscious College of St. Benilde.

Jio Jalalon, Dioncee Holts and Allen Enriquez combined for the Chiefs’ 31 fourth quarter points to help stave off the Blazers and post their seventh win against four defeats for No. 4. 

Jalalon went on to finish with 20 points he spiked with six rebounds and nine assists while Holts and Enriquez had 15 and 14 markers, respectively, as Arellano survived a league-best 15 three-pointers by St. Benilde.

Arellano thus erased the stigma of its loss to Jose Rizal, which it initially put under protest before deciding in the end to withdraw it out of sportsmanship.

Jonathan Grey came back from last game’s benching by erupting for a game-high 22 points before collapsing in the end as the Blazers fell to their ninth defeat against two wins.

The scores:

First Game

Arellano 86- Jalalon 15, Holts 15, Enriquez 14, Salado 12, Nicholls 11, Gumaru 11, Bangga 2, Cadavis 1, Capara 0, Meca 0, de Guzman 0, Zamora 0, Tano 0

St. Benilde 82- Grey 22, Domingo 16, Saavedra 14, Jonson 13, Nayve 9, Ongteco 5, Fajarito 2, Sta. Maria 1, Deles 0, Castor 0, San Juan 0

Quarterscores: 16-22; 38-37; 55-60; 86-82

Second Game

Perpetual Help 70- Eze 18, Ylagan 15, Thompson 13, Dagangon 12, Akhuetie 6, Gallardo 3, Elopre 2, Tamayo 1,  Oliveria 0, Dizon 0, Coronel 0, Pido 0

Lyceum 42- Bulawan 13, Alanes 10, Baltazar 4, Lacastesantos 4, Ayaay 4, Nguidjol 3, Malabanan 2, Mbida 2, Sunga 0, Soliman 0, Taladua 0, Elmerjab 0

Quarterscores: 17-11; 40-20; 50-35; 70-42