Games tomorrow
(The Arena)
12 noon — Perpetual vs Letran (Jrs.)
2 p.m. — CSB vs SSC (Jrs.)
4 p.m. — CSB vs SSC (Srs.)
6 p.m. — Perpetual vs Letran
 
University of Perpetual Help System Dalta won its initial game in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the first time in five years yesterday. Surprisingly, they did it under a mentor returning to active coaching in college basketball after eight years.
The Altas, holding their ground under grinding pressure, turned back Lyceum of the Philippines University, 82-70, in a welcome treat for Aric del Rosario yesterday at the Arena in San Juan City.
Del Rosario, whose last actual coaching job came in 2004 when he was coach of University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP, later said he was nervous in his initial outing with the Altas.
“Eto ninerbyos,” said the 72-year-old Del Rosario when asked to comment on his first game with the Altas. “Parang nanganganay muli, ang tagal ko nabakante.”
Jet Vidal, Earl Thompson and Nigerian Nosa Omorogbe provided steady fires for the Altas, and were also there when needed most as the Las Piñas-based school won its opening assignment for the first time since 2007.
The Altas, who appeared headed for a breeze early in the game, found some scary moments in the face of a spirited rally by the Pirates late in the third period.
But thanks to Omorogbe, Thompson, Vidal and Joel Jolangcob, and the other Nigerian in the team, Ariyo Babeyemi, the Altas, who finished ninth last season with 5-13 win-loss record, survived the challenge to launch their campaign in the 88th season on a high note.
Omorogbe, Thompson, Babeyemi and Jolangcob teamed up in a swirling 14-4 scoring binge highlighted by Vidal’s triple, enabling the Altas to restore their twin-digit advantage at 74-61 after the Pirates of coach Bonnie Tan had come threateningly close at 57-59 on a three-pointer by Dexter Zamora early in the third.
“Nung lumapit na sila (Pirates), sabi ko sa kanila (Altas), relax dahil lamang pa naman. Sabi ko gumawa kayo, ‘yun lang ang solution. Buti naman at nag respond,” said Del Rosario, while issuing kind words for Vidal.
“Si Vidal talaga ang pambato ko, lalo na pag mahigpitan. Siya pinakabala ko,” Del Rosario said of Vidal, who topscored for Perpetual with 17 points, including three triples, and four rebounds.
Cris Cayabyab, Shane Ko and Mark Francisco combined for 39 points for the Pirates, who are bidding to improve their sixth place last season.
Both the Altas and the Pirates had horrendous free throw shooting, but the former made up for that by converting 14 points on fast breaks and another 10 in Pirates’ turnover.
That enabled the Altas to sustain their early breakaway to leading by as many as 14 (38-24) late in the second quarter. The game’s complexion somewhat changed, but the Altas nevertheless kept themselves in the thick of things to even lead by 15 twice midway in the quarter, the last at 55-40, on triple by Jet Vidal with over three minutes left before the end of the quarter.