Altas seek share of 2nd vs Chiefs

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help hopes to flash its awesome form as it seeks to regain a share of second against Arellano University today while Jose Rizal U tries to stay in the Magic Four against St. Benilde in the 89th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Altas, behind the explosive tandem of Nose Omorogbe and Juneric Baloria, emerged the league’s highest scoring team after the first round elims with a 75.11-point norm, joining the San Beda Lions at second behind the Letran Knights.

They try to sustain their pace when they face the Chiefs at 4 p.m. With a 7-2 card, Perpetual dropped to third again after San Beda opened its second round campaign with an 81-63 rout of Lyceum and Letran stayed on top at 9-1 after holding off Mapua, 77-70, over the weekend.

“They’re our primary scoring options and we trust on their scoring ability to carry the team through,” said Perpetual coach Aric del Rosario in Filipino, referring to Omorogbe, one of his Nigerian imports, and Baloria, a rookie transferee from Lanao del Norte.

Omorogbe and Baloria posted averages of 21.22 and 18.67 points, respectively.