UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help System DALTA opened its Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) campaign with a thriller victory by stunning National University-Nazareth School.

The Junior Altas completed a comeback win against the Bullpups. 75-74, in their Sunday morning clash at the Tanduay Gym in Manila, and leading the way for the Las Piñas cagers were Lebron Jhames Daep, Rian Kelsey Baldoria, and Jan Roluna.

Daep led Perpetual with 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists, Baldoria followed with 12 markers, four rebounds, and a dime, while Roluna hit the game-winning basket and tallied nine points on top of three assists and one steal.

Trailing by four, 73-69, with 11 seconds remaining in the game, Perpetual’s Rosales converted a quick triple to get the Junior Altas to within one with still six ticks left on the clock.

Carl Alfanta was then fouled by Rosales as UPHSD looked to further extend the game, and fortunately for them, the former was slapped with a technical foul due to unsportsmanlike behavior as he tried to protect the ball from the inbound with an elbow.

Rosales sank his free-throw attempt to tie the game, while Alfanta only went one-of-two from the line to give National U a 74-73 lead.

Daep then made a long inbound pass to Roluna, and the latter went on to hit the eventual game-winner for Perpetual with only 1.3 left. Sealing the 13-point come-from-behind victory for them was Kurt Velasquez’s steal off the inbound of the Bullpups.

Velasquez was named the World Balance Player of the Game in the league that is presented by URATEX, Jollibee, Strong Group Athletics, and in partnership with JETOUR, World Balance, and Molten as official game ball after he tallied seven points, six steals, five assists, and two rebounds.

On the other hand, standing out for NUNS were Collins Akowe who had 16 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal, and Kurl Figueroa who finished with 10 points and three rebounds.

In another cardiac finish, University of the East escaped Jose Rizal University, 75-74.

Lance Sabroso top-scored for the Junior Warriors with 20 points together with four steals, Aguas and Jean Bana who had 16 and 10, respectively.

Diaz as when they were down 74-72 in the end game after they squandered a 12-point cushion, he posted the game-tying basket off his steal and was even fouled by Densle Pinzon.

Diaz, who had five points, aced his attempt from the 15-foot-line, and this allowed UE to avoid the meltdown in the first game day of the NGBL which is supported by Team Rebel Sports Pilipinas as official league outfitter, RICA UPVC Aluminum Glass and Trading Corp., Verleo Catering as official caterer, Tanduay Athletics, MET Food Corporation, Gatorade, Converge as official internet provider, Summit Natural Drinking Water, and Crocs.

Leading the Light Bombers, for their part, was Niño Rafael Ferrer’s 20 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while James Almario and Lee Marin backstopped him with 12 markers, each.

In the curtain raiser, San Beda University also tallied a comeback victory by defeating Arellano University, 72-70.

The Red Cubs stormed back from an 18-point deficit through a second-half surge that was led by MJ Vailoces who had 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals, Francis Dollente and Laurence Batongbakal who each scored 13, and Juris San Juan who had 11.

On the other hand, Johnray Ladica and John Axel Mendoza starred for the Braves with 18 and 12 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas thrashed Far Eastern University-Diliman in the third game, 76-57.

Gilas Pilipinas youth star Joaquin Ludovice displayed his stellar outing for the Tiger Cubs and put up 24 points, four assists, and two steals, while helping him were Racine Kane who had a 16-point, 10-rebound performance, and Liam Acido who finished with 10.

The scores:

First game

San Beda (72) — Vailoces 14, Dollente 13, Batongbakal 13, San Juan 11, Wagan 7, Reroma 6, Mondigo 5, Benedict 2, Villanueva 1, Garcia 0, Medroso 0, Agbayani 0, Jomalesa 0.
Arellano (70) — Ladica 18, Mendoza 12, Baluyot 12, Dy 9, Distrito 8, Tagorda 4, Austria 2, Yusi 2, Morado 2, Tanudtanod 1, Vergara 0, Manansala 0.

Second game

Perpetual (75) — Daep 16, Baldoria 12, Tabbuan 10, Roluna 9, Velasquez 7, Pagulayan 7, Cristino 5, Rosales 4, Nitura 2, Corpuz 2, Zanoria 1, Calangan 0.
NUNS (74) — Akowe 16, Figueroa 10, Palanca 8, Cartel 8, Alfanta 7, Solomon 6, Matias 6, Nepacena 5, Natinga 3, Locsin 2, Pillado 2, Usop 1.

Third game

UST (76) — Ludovice 24, Kane 16, Acido 10, Buenaflor 9, Loreto 6, Solon 4, Cañete 3, Cinco 2, Javier 2, Manding 0, Vidanes 0, Bandigan 0, Esteban 0, Bohol 0.
FEU-D (57) — Esperanza 18, De Guzman 8, Maierhofer 6, Pascual 5, Gemao 5, Salangsang 5, Rañeses 4, Godoy 4, Dagcutan 2, Gutierrez 0.

Fourth game

UE (75) — Sabroso 20, Aguas 16, Bana 10, Lorenzo 8, Bual 8, Diaz 5, Almanza 4, Lagat 2, Farochilen 2, Chua 0.
JRU (74) — Ferrer 20, Almario 12, Marin 12, Pinzon 9, Castillo 6, Satparam 5, Abequibel 4, Correa 4, To 2, Taparan 0, Rivera 0.

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