Altas' Vidal rains treys on Archers

MANILA, Philippines - Jeff Vidal unloaded six triples in the first half and finished with 26 points to power University of Perpetual Help-Dalta System to a shock 71-56 rout of the returning La Salle in the Filoil Flying V First Five Pre-Season Invitational Cup at the Flying V Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Vidal, who saw action for Philippine Christian University two years ago, took over for the Altas in the second quarter where he drilled four of his six treys to spearhead a stirring run that broke the game wide open.

He had 21 points at the half and added 14 in the last two quarters to steer the Altas to their second straight win against three losses.

The win was the Altas’ second straight after losing their first three games as they stayed in the hunt for a berth in the quarterfinal round in Group A in the tournament presented by Mighty Bond Extreme, with major sponsors Total Phils. Corp., San Marino Corned Tuna, Accel, Filoil Gas Company, Flying V and Hanesbrands, the official outfitter.

The Archers, who appeared sluggish coming off a three-week training in the US, dropped to 3-2.

San Sebastian beat Adamson, 83-76, in the other game as it closed in on the quarterfinal berth with a 5-1 slate. The Falcons slid to 4-3.

The Stags built a 20-point lead, 77-57, in the final quarter but had to fend off the Falcons, who closed to within five, 76-81, on a Julius Colina triple with less than a minute left in the game.

From a close 15-13 edge at the end of the first quarter, the Altas pounced on the Archers sloppy defense, outscoring the Taft-based cagers, 30-14, to wrest control of the match.

The Altas stayed hot from there and kept the Archers at bay en route to the lopsided win. They posted their biggest lead at 25, 63-38, on a triple by Arnold Danganan with 8:54 left in the contest.

“We were able to frustrate them in the first half with our defense,” said Altas coach Boris Aldeguer, whose wards scored 20 turnover points in the first half. 

Marlon Gomez added 12 for the Altas.

Joshua Webb led the Archers with 14 points while Luigi Dela Paz had 10.

La Salle came from a three-week training in Chicago. The Archers last played against the Blue Eagles, whom they beat, 77-74, last April 24.  – With report from Koji Echeminada