UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System DALTA continued its onslaught in the Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) and tallied its second win in as many games.
The Jeoph Cleopas-mentored squad defeated fellow NCAA team La Salle Greenhills, 84-76, during their Saturday morning clash at the Aero Center in Quezon City to remain at the top of Group A.
Leading the charge for the Las Piñas cagers was World Balance Player of the Game TJ Tabbuan who scattered 21 points, 11 rebounds, and six steals at the start of the long weekend presentation of the league that is is presented by URATEX, Jollibee, Strong Group Athletics, and in partnership with JETOUR, World Balance, and Molten as official game ball.
Also standing out were Lebron Jhames Daep who had 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, and Louie Rosales and JD Pagulayan who had 12 markers each.
These numbers, according to Cleopas, are a testament to the Junior Altas’ balanced approach in their games.
“I don’t expect from one player alone. Lahat kayang mag step up diyan. Nag step up din si Pagulayan [in the clutch], and ‘di rin ako na-surprise sa kanya kasi kayang-kaya niya gawin yun. Yung the rest of the boys, kayang gawin din yun,” he said.
Cleopas was pointing out to Pagulayan’s crucial three-pointers as when LSGH cut Perpetual’s 12-point lead to seven late in the fourth, the latter drained two crucial triples to extend their lead to 13, 83-70, at the 1:39 mark.
Baskets from Andre Bautista and Ram Sharma, trimmed the LSGH deficit to single digits, 83-76, with 53 ticks remaining in the game but it was too late for head coach Renren Ritualo’s troops as they remained winless in two games.
Guillian Quines led the Greenies in the league that is also supported by Team Rebel Sports Pilipinas as official league outfitter, RICA UPVC Aluminum Glass and Trading Corp., Verleo Catering as official caterer, Tanduay Athletics, with 21 markers, four rebounds, and an assist, but one main department that also factored in their defeat was the 22 errors that they committed in comparison to UPHSD’s 15.
In the curtain raiser, San Beda dominated MGC New Life Christian Academy by scoring the NGBL’s tournament-high so far in a 103-43 rout.
