Jan Roluna buries game-winner as Perpetual Junior Altas stun NU in NGBL opener

Youngster Jan Roluna saved the day as University of Perpetual Help System DALTA pulled off a comeback win against National University Nazareth School, 75-74, to open its Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) campaign on Sunday at the Tanduay Gym. 

The Junior Altas were staring at a 69-73 deficit in the final 11 seconds of the payoff period, but Louie Rosales trimmed that down to just one after a quick triple. But Rosales fouled NUNS' Carl Alfanta, who would split his charities, before committing an unsportsmanlike foul against the former in the crucial juncture of the game. 

Rosales completed his freebies, but the Bullpups were still holding a slim 74-73 lead. Roluna then showed up in the clutch, burying a basket off a Lebron Jhames Daep long inbound pass to seal their 13-point comeback victory. 

Daep led Perpetual with 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists, Rian Kelsey Baldoria followed with 12 markers, four rebounds, and a dime, while Roluna hit the game-winning basket and tallied nine points on top of three assists and one steal.

In another game, University of the East escaped Jose Rizal University, 75-74, behind Lance Sabroso, who top-scored for the Junior Warriors with 20 points laced with four steals, while helping him were Ethan Aguas and Jean Bana who had 16 and 10 markers apiece.

San Beda University and University of Santo Tomas likewise emerged victorious on the opening day, beating Arellano University, 72-70, and Far Eastern University-Diliman, 76-57. 

The Scores:

First Game

SAN BEDA 72 - Vailoces 14, Dollente 13, Batongbakal 13, San Juan 11, Wagan 7, Reroma 6, Mondigo 5, Benedict 2, Villanueva 1, Garcia 0, Medroso 0, Agbayani 0, Jomalesa 0, Winters 0.

ARELLANO 70 - Ladica 18, Mendoza 12, Baluyot 12, Dy 9, Distrito 8, Tagorda 4, Austria 2, Yusi 2, Morado 2, Tanudtanod 1, Vergara 0, Manansala 0, Gapac 0.

Second Game

PERPETUAL 75 - Daep 16, Baldoria 12, Tabbuan 10, Roluna 9, Velasquez 7, Pagulayan 7, Cristino 5, Rosales 4, Nitura 2, Corpuz 2, Zanoria 1, Calangan 0.

NUNS 74 — Akowe 16, Figueroa 10, Palanca 8, Cartel 8, Alfanta 7, Solomon 6, Matias 6, Nepacena 5, Natinga 3, Locsin 2, Pillado 2, Usop 1. 

Third Game

UST 76 - Ludovice 24, Kane 16, Acido 10, Buenaflor 9, Loreto 6, Solon 4, Cañete 3, Cinco 2, Javier 2, Manding 0, Vidanes 0, Bandigan 0, Esteban 0, Bohol 0.

FEU-D 57 - Esperanza 18, De Guzman 8, Maierhofer 6, Pascual 5, Gemao 5, Salangsang 5, Rañeses 4, Godoy 4, Dagcutan 2, Gutierrez 0.

Fourth Game

UE 75 - Sabroso 20, Aguas 16, Bana 10, Lorenzo 8, Bual 8, Diaz 5, Almanza 4, Lagat 2, Farochilen 2, Chua 0.

JRU 74 - Ferrer 20, Almario 12, Marin 12, Pinzon 9, Castillo 6, Satparam 5, Abequibel 4, Correa 4, To 2, Taparan 0, Rivera 0.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News