Door opens for Chiefs as Arellano shocks Perpetual Help

InterAKTV/Justin Gener

The lowly Arellano University Chiefs shocked the favored Perpetual Help Altas, 63-53, in rainy Monday NCAA Season 88 action at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The game was still close at the 5:49 mark of the fourth quarter after Nosa Omorogbe gave Perpetual its last taste of the lead, 50-49. The Chiefs then used a 14-3 windup to put the game away and grab their third win in eight games.

Arellano coach Koy Banal, an assistant coach with the B-MEG squad that lost to Rain or Shine in Game Seven of the Governors’ Cup finals Sunday night, talked about how difficult it was to steer his team coming off a defeat.

“Ito yung pinakamahirap gawin after a loss last night sa PBA, pero ang positive lang dito e meron akong chance na gumaan ang loob ko by coaching another game. Sinagot ng mga bata yung challenge. We played a very horrible game against San Sebastian,” he said.

Arellano rookie Nard Pinto, a transferee from Holy Cross in Davao, led the way for the Chiefs with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists.

“Mahal ko tong batang ‘to,” said Banal. “Buti nga nag-step-up. Niloloko ko nga sila na pag sinara ng diyos ang bintana, bubuksan ang Pinto.”

The Chiefs dominated the glass, allowing the Altas just eleven offensive rebounds.

“The boys had a chance to rise. We clearly outrebounded them. Dati sila ang nag-do-dominate because of their to reinforcements,” said Banal.

Prince Caperal added 11 and 12 rebounds for Arellano.

Perpetual gunner Jett Vidal, who had 11 points in the first half, was limited to just two points in the last two quarters. Another Altas reliable, Earl Thompson, was grounded as he finished the game with just eight points, as Perpetual dropped its second straight game to end its first round campaign with a 6-3 win-loss record.

The Chiefs will wrap up their first round campaign on Saturday when they take on the Mapua Cardinals at 4 p.m. The game was originally scheduled last July 21 but was postponed due to Tropical Storm “Ferdie.”

The Scores:

Arellano (63) — Pinto 15, Caperal 11, Zulueta 8, Cadavis 8, Forrester 6, Acidre 5, Hernandez 4, SAlcedo 4, Bangga 2, Espiras 0.

Perpetual (54) — Vidal 13, Babayemi 13, Thompson 8, Arboleda 8, Elopre 4, Omorogbe 4, Allen 4, Paulino 0, Alano 0, Jolangcob 0.

Quarterscores: 10-16, 28-27, 46-44, 63-54

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