Dolphins halt Altas streak in big upset

Exactly a week after Philippine Christian University crumbled down the stretch and bowed to University of Perpetual Help Dalta System, the Dolphins played with guts this time and got back at their tormentors, 71-62, yesterday in the 80th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Rookie center Gabriel Espinas dominated inside and scored 10 of his 14 points in the third quarter, all of them on putbacks and undergoal stabs as he powered PCU to its fourth win against the same number of losses. They also snapped the Altas’ six-game winning run.

Erasing the stigma of their fourth quarter meltdown against the league-leading Altas in their first meeting, the Dolphins came out strong this time, scoring the game’s first 10 points to seize control and never looked back.

"This is a good start for us in the second round. I’ve always believed in the boys," said PCU coach Loreto Tolentino, whose wards’ victory kept the team’s hopes for the Final Four alive.

Just like in their first face-off, PCU controlled the tempo in the first three quarters of the game. Unlike the first time out, however, the Dolphins hung tough in the clutch.

After entering the final quarter with a 52-46 lead, the Dolphins proved steadier in the closing minutes, with Jason Castro and Robert Sanz anchoring a decisive 11-5 run to scuttle the Altas’ rally. UPHDS closed the gap at 60-57, 2:10 to go.

Castro paced the Dolphins with 16 points, while third-year guard Jericho Gementiza added 14. Espinas shot 7-of-9 from the field and grabbed 11 rebounds, including five crucial offensive caroms.

San Beda drew strength from skipper Arjun Cordero as it downed Mapua, 79-73, in the other seniors contest. — Nathan Lee