FilOil: Arellano wins debut, blasts Perpetual Help

The Arellano University Chiefs, just a few weeks from being accepted as a permanent member of the NCAA, pummeled league rivals, the University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta Altas, 74-65, to open their respective campaigns in Group A of the FilOil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup, Friday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena. The Chiefs led by double digits most of the way, going up by as much as 19 points in the second half. Despite the win, Arellano head coach Koy Banal was unsatisfied with the last few minutes in the fourth despite having virtually won the game. "I thought we did a good job defensively, but down the stretch we weren't able to hold our own," said Banal. "Last season I tried to convince the players that before we could stop the opponents' fast break, we had to be a fast breaking team." Arellano University benefited from the services of former JRU Light Bomber Keith Agovida, who returned to the roster after a two-year absence from basketball due to academic issues. "Nakinig siya sa pambobola ko," joked Banal, while stressing that teamwork will be the key in getting to the NCAA Final Four this season. Levi Hernandez tallied 13 points for the Altas. Giovanni Jalalon and James Forrester had 12 points each and combined for 10 boards. Jalalon also tallied four steals. Agovida added 11 points The Chiefs looked to score in transition in the first quarter and were the aggressors early on, as Jon Pinto and Keith Agovida led Arellano to a 7-0 start. The Altas then moved away from the block, and Harold Arboleda and Joel Jolangcob made consecutive treys to cut the deficit to one with six minutes to play. However, those would be the only field goals Perpetual Help would score in the quarter. Arellano closed the period on a 19-4 run, backed by James Forrester and Levi Hernandez combining for 11 points. The pair drained three three-pointers while the rest of the Chiefs drew contact inside to post a 26-12 advantage after the first ten minutes. The Altas pushed back in the second quarter, as their penetration put the Chiefs in the penalty halfway through the period. Perpetual Help cut the lead to single digits on an and-one play by Nosa Omorogbe, 28-20, but they fell away anew as they couldn't keep Giovanni Jalalon out of the lane. The point guard scored six of the the Chiefs' next eight points, while Perpetual blanked from the field, 40-24. Juneric Baloria ended the Altas' quarter on a positive note, finding a rare open court lay-up to beat the buzzer. Baloria's lay-up was Perpetual Help's first field goal since two and a half minutes in the quarter as they trailed at halftime, 43-26. Arellano made 14-of-34 from the field in the first half (41 percent) while Perpetual Help shot a miserable 5-of-27 clip (19 percent). The Chiefs also had a 12-5 margin in turnover points as a result of forcing the Altas into 16 miscues, compared to only seven of their own. Baloria carried the Altas in the third quarter as he found easy points in transition, helping them cut their deficit to 13 points with four minutes to play, on charities by Jay Ylagan, 51-39. But Perpetual Help couldn't help themselves, as misses from the free throw line and defensive lapses allowed the Chiefs to counter. Zachary Nicholls drained a trey for Arellano to reinstate a 17-point lead with a minute remaining, before a Jolangcob basket and Omorogbe charities ended the fourth quarter, 58-45. The Chiefs gave no quarter in the final period and opened up a 19-point lead, 66-47, on a Hernandez bucket with under seven minutes to play. Perpetual Help, who couldn't come up with consistent stops on defense, rallied late to close the margin. Arellano ended with a 24-of-72 mark from the field overall (33 percent), while the Altas were 14-of-53 (26 percent). The Chiefs also led in turnover points (23-6) and fast break points (17-9). Juneric Baloria led all scorers with 22 points. Nosa Omorogbe tallied 15 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, while Harold Arboleda added 14 points and six rebounds. - AMD, GMA News The scores: AU 74: Hernandez 13, Jalalon 12, Forrester 12, Agovida 11, Pinto 8, Salcedo 6, Nicholls 6, Cadavis 2, Enriquez 2, Ruiz 2, Caperal 0, Bangga 0, David 0, Gumaru 0 UPHSD 65: Baloria 22, Omorogbe 15, Arboleda 14, Allano 6, Jolangcob 5, Ylagan 2, Oliveria 1, Elorpe 0, Bantayan 0, Lucente 0, Dizon 0, Sadiwa 0 Quarter scoring: 26-16, 43-26, 58-45, 74-65