Altas stun Cardinals to gain solo Group A lead

Perpetual’s JP Boral

(NCAA Philippines)

Games Friday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

9:30 a.m. – LPU vs SSC-R (jrs/srs)

2:30 p.m. – San Beda vs JRU (srs/jrs)

MANILA, Philippines — From the time it joined the NCAA almost four decades ago and up to now, University of Perpetual Help has never stopped dreaming of a breakthrough senior basketball championship.

And the realization of that dream could be drawing close after the Altas shocked the Mapua Cardinals in a gripping 75-65 victory Wednesday that propelled the former straight to the top of the NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

It was the third win in a row for UPHSD that was made even more special by the fact that it came at the expense of the team to beat this season — defending champion Mapua.

It also put the Altas on top of Group A.

Despite their early success, UPHSD coach Olsen Racela was quick to caution his players that they still have a long way to go.

“It’s a big victory but the league is just starting and anything can still happen,” said Racela.

The Altas did it with defense as they held former league MVP Clint Escamis to just six points while completely shutting down the Cardinals in the last five and a half minutes to steal the win.

During that scintillating stretch of defensive brilliance, UPHSD managed to score 10 points, half of which came from JP Boral, who ended up finishing with a team-best 15 points.

It also drew solid efforts from LA Casinillo, Patrick Sleat and Mark Gojo Cruz, who had 13, 12 and 12 points, respectively.

The Cardinals dropped to their first defeat after starting the season with a pair of wins.

The scores:

UPHSD 75 – Boral 15, Casinilio 13, Sleat 12, Gojo Cruz 12, Orgo 9, Abis 4, Alcantara 4, Maglupay 3, Nuñez 3, Gelsano 0, Pagulayan 0.

Mapua 65 – Recto 16, Gonzales 15, Cuenco 8, Lazarte 7, Escamis 6, Gulapa 3, Concepcion 2, Nitura 2, Sapasap 2, Delos Reyes 2, Reyes 2, Callangan 0, Ryan 0.

Quarterscores: 19-21; 39-40; 57-53; 75-65