Jielo Razon caught fire late to steer University of Perpetual Help System DALTA to a 61-57 bounce-back win over San Sebastian College-Recoletos in NCAA Season 98 on Saturday.
Razon scored eight points late in the fourth, including two crucial three-pointers, to send Perpetual up by two, 59-57, with 3:57 left in the clock.
Alex Desoyo had the chance to cut into the gap but he missed out on his last attempt as the ALTAs, who outscored the Stags, 21-12, in the fourth quarter, eventually clinched the victory.
Razon finished with 14 points to lead Perpetual while Marcus Nitura and Mark Denver Omega each chipped in with nine markers alongside double-digit rebounding with 12 and 11, respectively.
Perpetual improved to 3-3 while San Sebastian dropped to 2-3.
Although no players from their side reached double-digit scoring at the half, the ALTAs still held a 28-27 lead heading to the third.
The tight affair also saw both teams erecting a similar six-point lead in the first half with Razon and Rhinwill Yambing leading Perpetual and San Sebastian, respectively.
San Sebastian then took a 45-40 third quarter lead with Yambing and veterans Jessie Sumoda and Kenneth Villapando chipping in.
Razon and Rommel Calahat then had an exchange of triples late in the frame but Perpetual got enough help from other players to bag the win.
Villapando led the Stags with 14 points while Calahat tallied a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Perpetual next takes on Emilio Aguinaldo College on Tuesday while San Sebastian faces Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Wednesday.
The scores:
Perpetual 61 - Razon 14, Nitura 19, Omega 9, Flores 8, Abis 6, Martel 5, Barcuma 4, Egan 3, Roque 2, Boral 1, Cueva 0, Ferreras 0.
San Sebastian 57 - Villapando 14, Calahat 11, Yambing 9, Sumoda 8, Desoyo 7, Altamirano 5, Suico 3, Are 0, Shando 0, Cosari 0, Una 0, Escobido 0.
Quarters: 18-16, 28-27, 40-45, 61-57.
—JMB, GMA News
