MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am rookie Jason Perkins dished out a double-double game as he powered La Salle to a 91-63 rout of Emilio Aguinaldo College as the Archers rolled into the quarterfinals of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.
Perkins, who hails from Minnesota, had game highs 20 points and 11 rebounds to help the Archers notch their fifth straight victory that kept their lead in Group B and assured themselves of a place in the playoff phase.
National U likewise kept its unblemished slate as it routed a hapless University of the Philippines, 71-52, in the other game.
It was the Bulldogs’ eighth straight win and 19th overall, including 11 in last year’s edition.
NU coach Eric Altamirano said they will take a week-long break to play some semi-pro teams in Perth Australia starting on May 25.
Earlier, Letran bucked the absence of injured big man Raymond Almazan as it turned back an upset-conscious Lyceum, 77-72, to improve to 4-3 (win-loss).
The Knights went to their guards as talented rookie Rey Nambatac, Mcjour Luib and Franz Dysam combined for 37 points and 19 rebounds that more than made up for the 6-7 Almazan’s absence.
Meanwhile, reigning three-peat NCAA champion San Beda returns to action after attending training camps in the US as it takes on Far Eastern U at 4 p.m. today at The Arena.
The other games pit Adamson against St. Benilde at 12 noon and University of Santo Tomas versus University of the East at 2 p.m.
Lyceum fell to 0-4 while EAC 0-5.