Arellano University kept its top-two aspirations alive after escaping the struggling University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 70-69, in the NCAA Season 101 on Sunday at the Filoil Centre.
Do-it-all guard T-Mc Ongotan flexed his offensive prowess with 22 points on top of four rebounds, two assists, and one block as the Chiefs improved to 5-6 in Group A for their first back-to-back wins of the season.
More importantly, Arellano remained on track of finishing within top two, which comes with a twice-to-beat playoff incentive.
The Altas, who only needed one win to lock up the top spot, suffered their third loss in a row to go 8-4 but were already assured of a twice-to-beat bonus.
"Sa akin, hindi ko na tinitignan 'yung twice-to-beat or 'yung number three, tinitignan ko 'yung last two games namin. Nawa'y makuha namin, maipanalo namin," Arellano head coach Chico Manabat said.
"Hindi na kami aasa sa panalo ng iba basta kung saan kami dalhin, ready kami."
Arellano started out hot by building a lead as high as 18 when Ongotan converted a layup off an Ernest Geronimo dish late in the second period, 44-26.
The league-leading ALTAs, though, flipped the switch in the third period by unleashing a 12-0 rampage led by Mark Gojo Cruz and Patrick Sleat as the Las Piñas crew pulled within four, 40-44.
But thanks to Renzo Abiera and Joseph Hernal, the Chiefs were able to create another separation from the ALTAs and establish a crucial 55-47 cushion to end the frame.
Perpetual refused to just back down as John Abis completed a three-point play to cut the gap to five, 56-61, but Ongotan responded with a corner triple before sinking a floater to make a 68-58 lead with 3:31 left.
The Altas threatened another fightback as Abis posted another three-point play before LA Casinillo knocked down a corner three-pointer off a Gojo Cruz pass as the Las Piñas-crew sliced the deficit to a solitary point, 69-70, in the final 25 ticks.
Arellano fended off the Perpetual rally even after four straight misses from the free throw line.
Abiera posted 16 points to follow up on his 20-point outing last time against San Sebastian while Hernal and Basti Valencia each chipped in eight markers.
Gojo Cruz and Abis were among the bright spots for Perpetual with 14 and 13 points apiece, stepping up amid the struggles of Patrick Sleat, who was held to just eight markers on 3-of-15 shooting clip.
Scores:
Arellano 70 – Ongotan 22, Abiera 16, Hernal 8, Valencia 8, Camay 7, Vinoya 5, Buenaventura 4, Geronimo 0, Libang 0, Borromeo 0, Demetria 0, Langit 0, Acop 0, Cabotaje 0.
Perpetual 69 – Gojo Cruz 14, Abis 13, Casinilio 10, Sleat 8, Boral 8, Orgo 8, Nuñez 4, Pizarro 2, Maglupay 2, Alcantara 0, Duremdes 0, Tulabut 0.
Quarters: 28-20, 44-28, 55-47, 70-69.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
