Altas rap Blazers; Cards up

This time, University of Perpetual Help of Rizal didn’t crack at crunchtime.

Chester Tolomia cooly sank two pressure-packed charities in the last 9.1 seconds as the Altas turned back the St. Benilde Blazers fightback and preserve a 75-71 win yesterday in the 77th National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Rizal Coliseum yesterday.

"This win proved that we are capable of winning close games," said UPHR coach Bay Cristobal. "We displayed maturity today than in our last three games where we lost what we thought were won games."

The win did snap the Altas’ three-game skid as they caught their victim at 2-3.

Later in the day, Mapua blew hot and cold then hot again to beat Letran, 76-71, for its third win in five games.

Rookie Jeffrey Martin scored 16 points to power the Cardinals to the victory that gained them a share of second place with the Knights.

Earlier, the defending champion Red Robins repulsed the Squires, 67-61, to remain in second with a 4-1 slate behind the San Sebastian Staglets’ 4-0 mark in the junior division.

It was the Squires’ second defeat against three victories to slip to a share of third with the San Beda Red Cubs.

The Altas actually appeared headed for another endgame collapse when they nearly blew a 73-66 lead with 29.1 seconds remaining in the contest. But the high-leaping Tolomia came to the rescue and bailed the team out of trouble with those crucial charities.

The Blazers dominated the Altas in the first half but a 10-4 UPHR run, engineered by Tolomia, transformed a 33-38 deficit into a 52-42 lead, 3:21 left in the third quarter.

The Blazers rallied behind Jan Anthony Coching, Romar Menor and Sunday Salvacion who drilled in two free throws off Tolomia to trim the gap at 66-69, 2:30 remaining.

However, Salvacion fouled out in the ensuing play and St. Benilde just couldn’t convert on their possessions down the stretch.

Anthony Cosme backed up Tolomia with 21 while Malabanan and Ralfy Ibrahim added 14 and eight points, respectively. Jensen delivered five points, four rebounds and four assists.

Salvador led St. Benilde with 14 points while Coching and Romar Menor added 13 apiece. Magsumbol and Magpayo contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Greenhills Blazers earlier overwhelmed the Perpetual Altalettes, 102-59, in the junior division.