Altas stun Stags for solo lead

University of Perpetual Help of Rizal shocked a three-peat seeking San Sebastian, 72-65, yesterday behind the heroics of Marcel Cuenco anew to seize the solo lead in the 79th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Cuenco delivered the telling blows for the second straight game with 22 points including 11 in pivotal runs bridging the third and fourth quarters that sealed the Altas’ second victory in a row.

But more importantly, Cuenco, who starred in UPHR’s 76-69 opening day win over last year’s runner-up St. Benilde, was the anchor in the Altas double and triple-team defense against the 6-foot-7 Fil-Am Clark Moore, who could not buy a basket in more than 25 minutes he was on the court.

"Basta sabi ni coach step up lang ako kung kinakailangan," said Cuenco, a 22-year-old, three-year veteran out of Guagua, Pampanga.

Cuenco also got some help from the backcourt tandem of Dom Javier and Khiel Misa, who combined for 33 points, the bulk of which coming in the fourth quarter when the Altas put in the finishing touches.

In the other game, Philippine Christian University survived a late really by College of St. Benilde for a 69-68 victory for its first win in two outings.

Ahead at 68-61 going into the last three minutes, the Dolphins, who lost to the San Beda Red Lions, 65-73, last week, were held to just a point the rest of the way.

Aldrin Guiyab, picking up the slack left by last year’s starters Bernzon Franco, Nelson Gatdula, and Leo Gaspi, scored the marginal points for his team via the free throw line. He finished with eight points and 19 huge rebounds for a superb all-around effort.

The Blazers had a chance to steal the game but Al Magpayo’s three-point heave missed its target as the final buzzer sounded.

While St. Benilde remained the only winless team, PCU moved up in a tie at second spot with San Sebastian, Mapua, San Beda, Letran and Jose Rizal behind rampaging UPHR.

The defending champions drew huge games from the trio of Chris Baluyot, Victor Maneclang and Red Vicente but could not get anything from veterans Moore, Leomar Najorda, Nicole Uy and Michael Gonzales especially in the stretch when the Altas stole the game for good.

With Baluyot and Najorda leading the attack, the Stags set up a torrid pace and roared to a 20-13 first quarter lead, an advantage San Sebastian’s shock troopers, spearheaded by Maneclang and Vicente, padded to 12 points twice, the last at 33-21 midway in the second period.

And then Stag started missing easy shots , sparking a comeback by the enemy sparked by Cuenco,