University of Perpetual Help System Dalta picked up its fourth win yesterday as it rolled past defending champion Letran College, 73-61, in Season 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Staring at a 51-59 deficit with 8:50 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Altas fought back with a 22-2 run capped by a three-point play by Christian Pagaran with 26 seconds remaining to get the job done.
With the victory, Perpetual now sits at the seventh spot with a 4-6 win-loss record.
Marcus Nitura led the Altas with 17 points while Jun Roque had a double-double game of 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Pao Javillonar led the beleaguered Knights with 14 points.
With a 1-9 record at 10th place, Letran is on track in crashing to its worst-ever finish in the Final Four era.
The Las Pinas-based dribblers also completed a stunning season sweep of the three-peat champions after a 74-59 triumph in the first round last 15 October
“In my three seasons in the NCAA, this was the first time I won against them in the first and second rounds,” said Perpetual coach Myk Saguiguit.
Angelo Gelsano came off the bench to team up with skipper Jelo Razon in that telling final canto salvo that sent Letran skidding anew.
Like Gelsano, John Abis stepped up big by grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds on top of seven points and two blocks.
