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[av_heading heading=’Altas stuns top seed San Beda in NCAA’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The University of Perpetual Help Altas stayed alive in the NCAA Season 92 men’s seniors basketball Final Four with a stunning 87-83 win over the San Beda Red Lions on Friday at the San Juan Arena.
Gabriel Dagangon led the way with 27 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks for the Altas, which will once again face the Red Lions in the knockout clash for a finals berth on Tuesday.
Cameroonian Bright Akhuetie chipped in double-double 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Daryl Singontiko contributed 15 markers for the Altas, which will be aiming for its second finals appearance in the league.
The Red Lions opened the match with a 6-1 lead behind Robert Bolick and Benedict Adamos, but the Altas responded behind Singontiko, Flash Sadiwa and Genmar Ilagan to surge to a 21-9 lead.
The Red Lions rallied back early in the second frame behind Bolick to come to within 23-18, but the Altas leaned on Akhuetie and Dagangon for a 41-32 edge before Bolick trimmed the deficit to 41-36 at halftime.
The Red Lions continued its run in the third frame behind three straight triples by Amiel Soberano to come to within 50-47. The Red Lions later took the lead at 60-54 on conversions by Arnaud Noah.
The Red Lions were still holding on to a 66-62 lead early in the final quarter when the Altas went on a huge run behind outside hits by Singontiko and Dagangon to snatch the lead at 72-68.
The Red Lions surged ahead anew at 76-74 on triples by Soberano and Davon Potts, but a 7-0 scoring run by the Altas on a layup and a triple by Dagangon and an inside basket by Akhuetie took a 81-76 lead.
The Red Lions leaned on consecutive hits from Potts to tie the match at 83-all. A tough inside basket by Dagangon followed by two free throws by Keith Pido sealed the victory for the Altas.
Bolick top-scored with his career-best 21 points, while Soberano and Noah chipped in 16 and 14 points respectively for the Red Lions, which is undermanned with the absence of injured big man Donald Tankoua./PN
SCORES
PERPETUAL HELP 87 – Dagangon 27, Akhuetie 15, Singontiko 15, Hao 8, Ilagan 8, Coronel 6, Pido 6, Sadiwa 2, Eze 0, Gallardo 0, Mangalino 0
SAN BEDA 83 – Bolick 21, Soberano 16, Noah 14, Potts 12, Mocon 8, Adamos 6, Sara 2, Presbitero 2, Optana 2, Tongco 0, Bonsubre 0, Carlos 0, Alas 0, Navarro 0
QUARTERS – 21-9, 41-36, 60-62, 87-83
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