Altas stun Bombers, stay in race

Perpetual Help unleashed a vicious fourth quarter run as it shocked Jose Rizal, 78-70, yesterday to fan its flickering Final Four hopes in the 79th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Rookie Vladimir Joe had a coming out game as he erupted for a personal best 23 points including 11 in the final period that ended the Altas’ six-game skid for a 3-6 win-loss slate.

"I know he’s capable of playing this big and I’m not surprised that he had a big game today (yesterday)," said UPHR coach Bai Cristobal referring to the 6-foot-4 transferee from Holy Angel University in Angeles City, Pampanga.

With skipper Marcel Cuenco scoreless the whole game, Joe filled the slack with his sleek inside moves that kept the Heavy Bombers at bay.

Despite Joe’s heroics, Perpetual Help could not simply pull away as Jose Rizal, a Final Four qualifier last year, kept coming back. — Joey Villar