Valdez delivers in clutch anew as Pirates storm back vs Altas

Games Friday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)

12 p.m.- Mapua vs JRU
3 p.m.- Letran vs San Beda

MANILA, Philippines — Enoch Valdez came through with a fourth quarter performance to remember as he willed Lyceum of the Philippines University to a come-from-behind 82-77 victory over University of Perpetual Help Wednesday to stay on top in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament.

Misfiring and bumbling in the first three quarters, Valdez stayed resilient and unleashed 11 of his 13 points in the final period to help the Pirates erase a 66-56 deficit and transform it to their fourth win in five starts.

The athletic, 6-2 wingman from Pangasinan also starred in LPU’s shock 89-81 triumph over San Beda last Sept. 17 when he dropped a solid 17-point, eight-rebound effort.

And Valdez has just recovered from a shoulder injury a season ago.

“It was a team effort, I just helped my team win,” said Valdez.

The Altas appeared headed to lock this one up after they soared to a 66-56 advantage on a booming left wing triple by Kim Aurin early in the final canto.

It turned out to be their last as Valdez came out of nowhere to deliver the decisive blows.
UPHSD slipped to 2-3.

Meanwhile, league commissioner Tonichi Pujante slapped a one-game suspension on Letran’s Brent Paraiso and Louie Sangalang for their unsportsmanlike behavior in their 67-62 win over Mapua Tuesday.

Paraiso was sacked due to his dangerous flagrant foul that hit Mapua’s Adrian Nocum’s nape while Sangalang got the boot for incurring two technical fouls for taunting.

The two are expected to serve it in the Knights’ showdown with their bitter rivals—the San Beda Lions—today.

“I strongly denounce violence of any form in and outside the playing court,” said Pujante.

The scores:

LPU 82 -- Valdez 13, Guadana 12, Umali 10, Penafiel 9, Navarro 9, Cunanan 9, Barba 7, Montano 5, Bravo 4, Larupay 2, Vinoya 2, Villegas 0

UPHSD 77 -- Razon 18, Aurin 16, Abis 11, Omega 8, Nitura 8, Martel 6, Egan 5, Flores 2, Boral 2, Barcuma 1, Cuevas 0, Roque 0, Orgo 0, Nunez 0

Quarterscores: 13-20; 35-44; 63-56; 82-77