Altas bounce back, turn the tide vs Bombers

John Abis

(NCAA Philippines)

Games Sunday

(FilOil EcoOil Arena)

9:30 a.m. – EAC VS SSC-R (juniors/seniors)

2:30 p.m. – CSB VS AU (seniors/juniors)

MANILA, Philippines — University of Perpetual Help used its inside might to dictate the pace in the second half and overcome a feisty Jose Rizal University, 71-65, on Saturday in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Bull-strong John Abis presided over the interior rampage as he scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in that decisive period when the Altas turned the tables around in their favor to snare their fifth win in six outings.

It also kept the Las Pinas-based dribblers atop Group A while quickly bouncing back from a stinging 63-56 defeat at the hands of the Letran Knights last Wednesday for their only loss of the season that far.

So dominant was UPHSD inside that it outrebounded JRU, 41-33, including 22-11 in the final half.

“We outrebounded them, that really helped us,” said UPHSD coach Olsen Racela.

Racela was also all praises of his bench.

“We knew coming into the season that we will be a little disadvantaged when it comes to personnel,” said the PBA Hall of Famer. “But I have to commend my second group, I was really on them yesterday (Friday) in practice.”

“I told them how crucial they’d be for us this season and it really showed in this game,” he added.

JRU was confident at the start as it raced to an early 18-12 lead after the opening period before slowing down in the next when that advantage was cut to two, 34-32, at the break.

And then, the Altas started to flex their muscle.

The Bombers dropped to 3-3 in Group B.

The scores:

UPHSD 71 – Abis 17, Gojo Cruz 11, Boral 9, Alcantara 8, Casinilio 7, Orgo 5, Sleat 4, Nuñez 4, Gelsano 4, Maglupay 2, Tulabut 0, Pizzaro 0.

JRU 65 – Salvador 18, Argente 14, Peñaverde 9, Garupil 8, Panapanaan 6, Laurenaria 5, Lozano 3, Benitez 2, Sarmiento 0, Castillo 0, Duque 0.

Quarterscores: 12-18; 32-34; 52-50; 71-65