Las Piñas turns back Perpetual

Dennis Daa and Dondon Mordeno keyed a fourth quarter breakaway yesterday as Las Piñas College stunned University of Perpetual Help-Rizal, 89-80, at the start of the Grudge Games of Champions League 2003 at the Makati Coliseum.

Trailing for three-quarters of the game, the Huskies came alive in the last 10 minutes, with Daa pouring 12 of his 29 points and Mordeno 8 of his 12.

LPC, which trailed, 66-59, going to the fourth period, overwhelmed UPHR, 30-14, in the pivotal stretch.

Huskies coach Carmelo Alas paid tribute to their team defense.

"Naghahabol kami throughout dahil bugbog kami sa loob ng kanilang big men kaya naisipan kong mag-sona," said Alas, younger brother of former Talk N’ Text coach Louie Alas.

The switch from a man-to-man to a 2-3 zone late in the third quarter apparently caught the Altas by surprise, turning cold in the last quarter as the Huskies broke the game open.

UPHR committed 30 turnovers (to LPC’s 18), yielding to the Huskies 27 points of those miscues.

Joel Gragasin, who drained three triples, added 19 points for LPC, while Robert Barnson had 20 points and Noy Javier 18 for coach Bay Cristobal’s UPHR.