MANILA, Philippines -- University of Perpetual Help and San Beda-B outplayed their foes over the weekend and both continued to assert their supremacy in the 12th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament.
The UPHSD Altas banked on two charities from Akhuetie Bright to get past La Salle, 73-72, last Saturday at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola.
Kevin de Castro showed the way 21 points as the SBC-B Red Lions turned back National University, 66-49, Sunday over at the Far Eastern University gym, and as action resumed in this cagefest, which is supported by Bauerfeind supports and orthoses, and medical compression stockings, and Wang’s Basketball.
Bright, who had 25 points, scored the winning charities in the last 22.3 seconds, and the Altas went on to move ahead in the Group A lead with their 5-1 win-loss record.
Benoit Mbala, who had 20 points for La Salle, could have forced overtime, but he missed his charities in the final 11.9 seconds, and the Green Archers absorbed their third setback in five games.
The Red Lions-B snapped NU’s winning run after five games in Group C, and they are unbeaten in four outings.
In other senior games, College of St. Benilde drew 17 points from Ahmed Sardouk as they stopped National College of Business and Arts, 79-70, while Emilio Aguinaldo College defeated San Beda-A, 54-49.
San Beda-A had previously won over University of the East, 71-64, a day before (Saturday).
In the junior division, San Benildo waylaid San Sebastian, 61-52, and Arellano University stopped Xavier School, 79-77.
Also last Saturday, Xavier School needed an extra period to shrug off Mapua, 85-83.
Commissioner Robert de la Rosa said the top two teams in each of the three brackets will earn slots to the quarterfinals.