Friday’s action in the NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament saw the Perpetual Help Altas keep the San Sebastian Golden Stags winless and the JRU Heavy Bombers hand the Benilde Blazers a loss as Allen Liwag returned from injury.
Perpetual Keeps San Sebastian Winless, 82-75
Perpetual started aggressively, building a commanding 31-14 lead in the opening quarter behind its strong offensive attack. The Altas maintained their advantage in the second period, entering halftime ahead, 47-34. They continued to control the matchup in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 59-47 heading into the final frame.
The Golden Stags mounted a late comeback, unleashing a 9-1 run to cut the deficit to just four points, 75-71, with 2:04 remaining.
Mark Gojo Cruz halted their momentum with a crucial inside basket before Jim Corpuz converted his free throws to restore an eight-point cushion, 79-71, with less than a minute left. Perpetual held on through the closing possessions to secure the victory.
Gojo Cruz led the Altas with an all-around performance of 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, while Juan Tulabut also finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. LA Casinillo contributed 14 points to help Perpetual improve its standing.
Meanwhile, Niel Castor paced San Sebastian with 18 points, while Ralph Gabat added 15 in the losing effort.
The victory improved Perpetual’s record to 4-8 in Group B, providing a timely boost ahead of its final elimination-round assignment against Letran. San Sebastian, on the other hand, finished the preliminary round with a winless 0-13 record, extending its losing streak to 17 games dating back to last season.
The Altas and Golden Stags are set to meet again in the Group B play-in round, where Perpetual holds the twice-to-beat advantage.
JRU Clinches Twice-to-Beat Advantage After Beating Benilde, 85-79
The Heavy Bombers faced an early challenge as the Blazers took a 23-20 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
However, JRU responded in the second period, outscoring Benilde to establish a 45-39 halftime advantage. The Heavy Bombers continued to build momentum in the third quarter, extending their lead to 69-59 heading into the final frame.
JRU appeared to have the game under control after moving ahead, 79-70, late in the fourth quarter. Benilde, however, mounted a 5-0 run capped by an Ian Torres 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 79-75 with 1:34 remaining.
Lawrence Mangubat answered with a difficult midrange basket to restore a six-point cushion before Torres connected again from beyond the arc to keep the Blazers within striking distance. Mangubat then calmly converted his free throws down the stretch to preserve the Heavy Bombers’ victory.
Mangubat delivered a career-high 27 points to lead JRU, while Sean Salvador and Jahmir Eligado contributed 16 points apiece. Meanwhile, John Morales paced Benilde with 16 points, followed by Justine Sanchez with 13.
The matchup also marked the return of two-time league MVP Allen Liwag, who missed the Blazers’ previous games due to injury. He finished with six points and three rebounds in 15 minutes of action.
With the victory, JRU concluded its elimination-round campaign with a 10-3 record, securing the top spot in Group A and the crucial twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals. Benilde dropped to 8-4 and will have another opportunity to claim the remaining advantage when it faces San Beda in its final elimination-round assignment.
