Altas nail first win at Generals’ expense

MANILA, Philippines — The Perpetual Help Altas are firm believers of the belief that practice makes perfect.

“We’re thankful that the things we worked really hard to do in practice, we have done in crunch time,” said Perpetual sweet-shooting guard Mark Gojo Cruz shortly after they downed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 83-72, yesterday for their first win in NCAA Season 102 at the Filoil Center.

Gojo Cruz delivered what they preached in training, coming through when needed most as he fired 11 of his 15 points in the fourth and final quarter to lead the Altas to their first win after a stinging opening-day defeat to the Letran Knights.

“We prepared for moments like this, fighting in close games,” he added.

Angelo Gelsano kept UPHSD’s head above water most of the game and had a team-best 17 points, 11 of which he sprinkled in the second period when they turned a two-point edge to 42-36 at the break.

The Generals, led by EJ Castillo’s seven-point barrage, kept it closer, 58-54, entering the final canto.

EAC kept on pecking at UPHSD’s lead and even cut it to a hairline, 62-61, on a Jude Bagay bucket with 7.27 minutes left the clock.

It was the closest the Generals could get as Gojo Cruz went on a scoring binge to preserve the win for the Las Piñas-based dribblers.

In the nightcap, St. Benilde overpowered Lyceum, 98-82, to seize the solo lead with a pristine 2-0 record.

Matthew Jucom was the judge, jury and executioner for the Blazers as he fired a team-high 17 points while adding six rebounds, an assist and a steal.

The Pirates fell to 0-1.