Buzzer-beater lifts SWU over Perpetual

Games today (The Arena)

10:45 a.m. – NU vs CSB (women’s B)

12:30 p.m. – SBC vs Lyceum (seniors B)

2:15 p.m. – HTC vs SSC (seniors C)

4 p.m. – JRU vs DLSU (Seniors A)

5:45 p.m. – DLSZ vs JRU (juniors B)

MANILA, Philippines - Antonio Pardo hit a buzzer-beating floater as Southwestern U of Cebu edged erstwhile unbeaten Perpetual Help, 79-77, to go 2-0 in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

Pardo got a feed from the Cobras’ top shooter Mark Tallo, who was double-teamed in the dying seconds, and gamely sank the game-winner to complete the upset.

“Mac-mac (Tallo) was double teamed so I moved into position to get open, prepared to get his pass and take the last shot,” said Pardo who shared scoring honors with Tallo with 19 points apiece.

National U, moving on without star player Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., opened its Filoil campaign with a 106-67 blowout of Holy Trinity College of General Santos City.

Landry Sanjo took care of business inside the paint for SWU, coming up with two successive shot blocks and grabbing a big rebound to prevent the Altas from breaking a 77-77 deadlock on their offensive end.

The Cobras wiped out a five-point deficit (77-72 ) in the last 1:20 with Pardo’s connection from trifecta and Sanjo’s hookshot bringing them back to life.

“That was just a lucky shot in the sense he really made it, I give it to this guy [Pardo] for having the composure to make that shot, and he’s not in a hurry to take that shot,” said SWU coach Raul Alcoseba.
Sanjo finished with 13 markers, nine boards, and five blocks.
SWU picked up its second win following up its 72-68 triumph over Jose Rizal U the other day.
“We really want to get two wins in Manila before we play four games in Cebu,” Alcoseba said, dedicating the victories to Cebuanos. “These two wins are for Cebu.”
The Altas dropped to 3-1.
Parks had left the NU camp to try his luck in the US and the Bulldogs turned to a lot of heroes in the debut in the summer loop.
Reden Celda sizzled from beyond the arc and made all five of his attempts for 20 points, leading a balanced attack for the Bulldogs with Alfred Aroga putting up 16 points and 11 boards, JJ Alejandro dropping 14 markers, all in the payoff period, and Jeth Rosario, Gelo Alolino and Glenn Khobuntin adding 13,12 and 10, respectively.
The Bulldogs put the game away from the Wildcats’ reach with 34-14 exchange in the third period.
“There are still a lot of things we need to address. We didn’t really play well in the first half but what I like about the boys is they were able to respond well in third quarter; they were able to regroup and get their game back,” said NU mentor Eric Altamirano.