SAN JUAN CITY, Metro Manila — Arellano University escaped past a fighting University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 61-59, for win number two in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 98 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil gym here on Friday.

Arellano wingmen Alex Doromal and Shane Menina joined hands to lift their team from what could have been a shameful loss to UPSHD which never allowed the AU Chiefs to score a big lead but the altas eventually wilted in the endgame.

Menina and Doromal outscored the Altas 17-12 in the fourth quarter, making all but two of the necessary points in the final period for Arellano.

Trailing by three, 56-59, Perpetual Help tried to mount a rally with 11 seconds left, highlighted by Altas’ Kim Aurin gem of a steal from an Arellano inbound pass but his triple try did not find its mark.
It was then Menina knocked down two clutch free throws with two ticks left giving them a five-point 61-56 lead for the Chiefs before Jielo Razon nailed a triple right at the buzzer that sealed the final score.

In the other game, College of Saint Benilde (CSB) squandered a huge lead but still it came away with a 100-94 triumph over gritty San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) to keep its score card unscathed, 2-0.

The Blazers leaned on its veteran forward Migs Oczon in a third quarter attack that saw Saint Benilde outscore the Golden Stags, 35 to 24, in a searing onslaught that saw the high-scoring CSB star player drill in a trio of three pointers.

CSB improved its record to 2-0 while San Sebastian College dropped to an even 1-1 slate.

The Scores:

First Game
Arellano (61)

Doromal 19, Menina 13, Mallari 9, Flores 8, Abastillas 5, Tolentino 3, Mantua 3, Oliva 1, Oftana 0, Domingo 0, Talampas 0

Perpetual (59)

Aurin 27, Omega 9, Martel 6, Nitura 5, Razon 3, Barcuma 3, Flores 2, Egan 2, Ferreras 2, Orgo 0, Cuevas 0, Boral 0, Roque 0, Nunez 0, Movida 0

Quarterscores: 7-13, 27-24, 42-47, 61-59

Second Game
St. Benilde (100)

Oczon 25, Gozum 23, Corteza 18, Cullar 11, Pasturan 8, Nayve 4, Lepalam 4, Carlos 4, Sangco 3, Mara 0, Marcos 0, Flores 0

San Sebastian (94)

Calahat 21, Altamirano 16, Villapando 10, Desoyo 9, Are 8, Sumoda 7, Escobido 5, Shanoda 5, Yambing 5, Una 3, Cosari 2, Suico 2, Felebrico 1, Concha 0

Quarterscores: 28-20, 46-38, 83-62, 100-94CIP