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The Perpetual Altas. Photo from NCAA Philippines.

Article (news)

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1726900736140IMG_5056.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Perpetual Altas. Photo from NCAA Philippines."/>The Perpetual Altas. Photo from NCAA Philippines.</div>MANILA — University of Perpetual Help System DALTA successfully returned to the win column after a stellar showing against Emilio Aguinaldo.The Altas moved past the Generals, 73-67, during their NCAA Season 100 men&#x27;s basketball tournament faceoff today at the San Juan Arena, and taking charge for UPHSD yet again was rookie Mark Gojo Cruz.The former Junior Altas guard had 18 points, six assists, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals, while following him was team captain Chris Pagaran who had 15 markers, nine boards, four dimes, and a steal. Also standing out for UPHSD, which was coming off a loss against College of St. Benilde, was Cedrick Abis who had 11, while Shawn Orgo contributed a nine-point, seven-rebound game. Only a four-point game with Perpetual ahead 51-47 early in the fourth period, the Altas turned up the heat and produced an 11-to-nothing spurt in a span of over two minutes which was capped off by a jumper by Orgo at the 5:21 mark of the same frame.The Altas&#x27; lead even grew to as much as 16, 70-54, and according to UPHSD head coach Olsen Racela, it was a matter of his crew intensifying their efforts, especially on the defensive end. &quot;I told them that we should play for the whole 40 minutes kasi we were inconsistent with the way we played defense,&quot; said Racela, whose squad already almost squandered a nine-point lead in the earlier parts of the bout.&quot;Ang focus namin ngayon is we put in the effort. Yun yung wala nung kalaban namin yung CSB, effort, eh I told them na the harder you work, the luckier you get. Yung hard work nila and effort nila defensively paid off today,&quot; he added. EAC looked to chop their deficit as the game neared its end, with the Generals even closing in by as few as six all thanks to the efforts of King Gurtiza and Gil Quinal, but that was the lowest that they could get before falling down to 2-3.Gurtiza finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, while Quinal followed with 16 markers, five boards, and two steals. On the other hand, Racela likes how the Las Pinas-based cagers are performing and developing in Season 100 so far, especially since they are above .500 midway through the first round. &quot;We&#x27;re very optimistic. We&#x27;re learning a lot of things about each other, and those things, I feel, will help us down the line,&quot; he said about the now 3-2 Altas.&quot;Before the season, sinabi ko na this year is all about growth, and feeling ko, even in the losses, we are beginning to realize how to play with each other, how to be selfless, and how defense is very important to our philosophy.&quot;&quot;Yung little things na sinasabi ko sa kanila, na dapat &#x27;di nila tine-take for granted — yung rebounding — the bigs did their job boxing out, and those long rebounds, si Pagaran ang kumukuha, so hat&#x27;s off to him,&quot; explained Racela, pointing out on how their development was shown in their game today. The Altas outrebounded EAC, 60-49 —  a reflection of one of the key pointers by Racela to his squad — but he also wants to put an emphasis on how they can take care of the ball moving forward. &quot;We have to take better care of the basketball. We have to be stronger with the ball, kasi ine-expect na namin yung physicality ng NCAA, so dapat mas malakas pa kami. And of course, I&#x27;ll review and see how I can help them lessen their turnovers,&quot; he said.  <div>THE SCORES:</div>Perpetual 73 - Gojo Cruz 18, Pagaran 15, Abis 11, Orgo 9, Boral 5, Gelsano 5, Montemayor 3, Nuñez 2, Pizarro 2, Sevilla 2 Cauguiran 1, Manuel 0, Movida 0.EAC 67 - Gurtiza 17, Quinal 16, Oftana 15, Ochavo 4, Luciano 4, Umpad 4, Bagay 4, Angeles 2, Ednilag 1, Manacho 0, Doromal 0, Bacud 0, Loristo 0, Pagsanjan 0, Devara 0.Quarterscores: 18-12, 33-28, 49-42, 73-67.<div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/loOGNVK5pu4?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

University of Perpetual Help System DALTA successfully returned to the win column after its stellar showing against Emilio Aguinaldo.

University of Perpetual Help System DALTA successfully returned to the win column after its stellar showing against Emilio Aguinaldo.

NCAA: Olsen Racela seeing signs of growth for Perpetual as Altas dump EAC

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NCAA: Olsen Racela seeing signs of growth for Perpetual as Altas dump EAC

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 21, 2024 03:08 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

ABSSports

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NCAA

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NCAA Season 100

Perpetual

EAC

Olsen Racela

Mark Gojo Cruz

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