University of Perpetual Help System DALTA needed three extra periods to tame San Beda University, 88-85, in the NCAA Season 101 on Wednesday at the FilOil Ecoil Centre.
Mark Gojo Cruz came up big late in the fourth and in all three extra frames as the ALTAs soared to 8-1 in Group A while the Red Lions snapped their four-game winning streak to go 6-2 in Group B.
The sophomore star drained a booming triple in fourth period for a 63-59 lead but a Yukien Andrada three-pointer ultimately forced the first overtime, 64-64.
Janti Miller carried San Beda on his back in OT, opening it with three straight points before sinking a layup that knotted it all up at 72-all and forced the second extra time.
Gojo Cruz split from the line before issuing a pass that set up John Abis' jumper for a 75-72 lead in the second OT. Shawn Orgo then made it a 77-72 cushion off his layup.
But Bismarck Lina steadily sank a pair of free throws before Miller hit a massive three-pointer that saw the game locked at 77-all as both teams headed to another overtime.
Patrick Sleat would complete a three-point play while Orgo's two freebies sent Perpetual to an 82-77 advantage, but the former fouled out as Miller clinched his own three-point play that cut San Beda's deficit to just two, 80-82, with 3:06 left.
Gojo Cruz displayed his clutch genes as he knocked down perhaps the dagger triple before dishing a dime that allowed JP Boral to bury his own bucket from beyond the arc as the ALTAs took an 88-83 lead en route to the win.
Sleat finished with a career-high 23 points together with six rebounds, four assists, and one block while Gojo Cruz churned out 20 markers, five boards, five dimes, two blocks, and one steal.
Abis tallied a double-double outing of 14 points and 11 rebounds as Perpetual spoiled a 28-point performance from Miller, who also had seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
It was a huge breakthrough for Perpetual, giving head coach Olsen Racela his first victory over powerhouse San Beda since taking the reins last year.
"Naubos na ako sa kakasigaw kanina but I’m just proud with the way we fought today. We were up in the second quarter then bumalik sila then dikitan na hanggang sa huli. Ang galing ni Miller e," Racela said.
"But to beat a really great program like San Beda is really an achievement for our school, for our team. Ngayon lang namin natalo ang San Beda."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
