Fr. Martin’s Cup: Perpetual rolls past UP
The University of Perpetual Help used a hot third quarter run to pull away and beat the University of the Philippines, 83-66 in the continuing 25th Fr. Martin’s Cup Summer League presented by Resorts World Manila, Bedans 62-66, and Cocolife Saturday at the San Beda Gym in Manila.
Tonton Peralta and Jielo Razon joined hands in a blazing 29-7 third-quarter onslaught from the Altas as they accounted for 20 points in the period to break the game wide open.
Peralta fired 23 points while Razon added 15 points, all but two coming in the third frame. CJ Catapusan wounded up with 21 markers while Pio Longa ended with 15 points, all from three-point range.
It was the Fighting Maroons who gained the upper hand first behind Longa’s three long-range bombs in the first period, but the UAAP runners-up were unable to sustain their momentum.
The Altas improved to 3-1 in Group A of the seniors’ division while the Fighting Maroons stayed winless at 0-3.
In the first game, the Adamson Soaring Falcons overcame a deficit in the fourth quarter to prevail against a feisty TRESTON Golden Lions side, 81-73 and take solo second in Group A with a 4-1 record.
It was close from the get-go before the Golden Lions opened the final quarter with seven unanswered points to make it 64-55.
Later, JM Sicat hit back to back baskets to push Treston ahead, 73-69 in the final two minutes of regulation.
But the Soaring Falcons closed out strong, as AP Manlapaz hit five straight to make it 74-73 for Adamson before free throws from Andrew Velasco under the last minute made it 77-73.
An unsportsmanlike foul from Sicat made matters worse with only 15 seconds to go, as Michael Macion converted two more from the charity stripe to put the game away.
It was a balanced effort from Velasco, Manlapaz, and Aaron Fermin, who tallied 14, 13, and 12 points respectively.
Big man Leo Esguerra paced the Golden Stallions with a game-high 20 markers.
In the other Group A match-up, the Mapua Cardinals walloped the AMA University Titans, 100-69.
Powered by their three-point shooting, the NCAA stalwarts established a sizable margin in the second period and never looked back.
Warren Bonifacio asserted his might inside with 25 big points while Joaquin Garcia and JJ Pido contributed 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
