Eze's breakout game powers Perpetual past Arellano

Games Thursday

(Perpetual Help Gym) 

2 p.m.- Perpetual Help vs San Beda (jrs) 

4 p.m.- Perpetual Help vs San Beda (srs) 

MANILA, Philippines — Nigerian Prince Eze dished out a career performance as Perpetual Help turned back Arellano U, 68-59, to bolster its Final Four campaign in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City Tuesday. 

Thrust into the limelight following the departure of countryman Bright Akhuetie early this year, Eze continued to live up to the challenge and unleashed a career-high 23 points he spiked with 21 rebounds and five blocks to power the Altas to their third win against four defeats. 

“He worked and prepared hard knowing he will get more minutes this year and he is reaping the fruit of his labor,” said Perpetual Help coach Jimwell Gican in Filipino, referring to the 6-9 Eze. 

GJ Ylagan provided the needed help for Eze as he finished with 11 points and eight boards. 

It helped that the Altas limited Kent Salado, the Chiefs’ unquestioned leader, to just 14 points on a woeful five-of-14 shooting clip. Salado also committed six of his team’s 15 turnovers that hastened their downfall. 

The Las Pinas-based school seeks to ride the momentum on this big triumph as it tackles reigning titlist San Beda when the league visits Perpetual Help at 4 p.m. tomorrow. 

In the other game, Ervin Grospe came through with 19 points, five caroms and two assists to lift Jose Rizal to a 72-48 bashing of undermanned Emilio Aguinaldo and improve to 3-3. 

Jed Mendoza and Abdul Sawat contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively. 

The Generals, who have lost Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), skidded to 3-4. 

The scores: 

First Game 

Perpetual Help 68 – Eze 23, Ylagan 11, Dagangon 10, Clemente 8, Yuhico 7, Pido 5, Coronel 4, Mangalino 0, Hao 0, Tamayo 0, Lucente 0

Arellano U 59 – Salado 14, Abanes 13, Flores 9, Canete 7, Enriquez 4, Ongolo Ongolo 4, Nicholls 3, Villoria 3, Meca 2, Alcoriza 0, Dela Cruz 0, Taywan 0, Concepcion 0, Padilla 0 

Quarterscores: 15-10, 33-25, 47-44, 68-59 

Second Game 

Jose Rizal 77 – Grospe 19, Mendoza 15, Sawat 10, Poutouochi 9, Dela Virgen 6, Teodoro 6, Bordon 5, Abdul Razak 4, Castor 2, Lasquety 1, Pontejos 0, David 0 

EAC 48 – Diego 13, Garcia 12, Onwubere 5, Corilla 4, Bugarin 3, Bautista 3, Guzman 3, Tampoc 3, Munsayac 2, Pascua 0, Mendoza I 0, Neri 0, Altache 0, Mendoza J 0 

Quarterscores: 14-10, 37-21, 65-32, 77-48