STAY ALIVE. University of Perpetual Help System Dalta skipper Jelo Razon dribbles past defenders from San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Tuesday (Nov. 21, 2023). Razon scored a career-high 26 points in leading the Altas to beat the Stags, 75-60, to light their flickering Final Four hopes. (Photo courtesy of NCAA)
MANILA – Skipper Jelo Razon scored a career-high 26 points as University of Perpetual Help System Dalta beat San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 75-60, in the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Tuesday.
Razon's 11-point output in the fourth quarter included three triples, his effort helping the Altas improve to 10-8 in their last game in the elimination round.
But whatever hopes Perpetual has of making it to the Final Four would depend on the outcome of the remaining games of San Beda University (10-6) and Jose Rizal University (10-7).
San Beda, which was scheduled to play Lyceum of the Philippines University late Tuesday, will meet Colegio San Juan de Letran on Nov. 24.
Jose Rizal University, on the other hand, will face Mapua University on Wednesday.
“Yan naman pinag-usapan namin ng mga player, ipakita natin dun sa humahawak ng destiny natin kung meron pa another game for us, ipakita nila na deserving tayo (That's what we talked about with the players, let's show those who hold our destiny if there is another game for us, show them that we deserve it)," Perpetual coach Myk Saguiguit said after the game.
Razon, on his final season with Perpetual, has mixed emotions.
“Malungkot kasi baka last game ko na ito, masaya dahil nakapag serve ako sa Perpetual gamit talent ko (Sad because this might be my last game, happy because I was able to serve in Perpetual using my talent),” said the 24-year-old guard, who has a total of eight playing years with Perpetual, including three in high school.
Romel Calahat had 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block while Alex Desoyo added 12 points for the Stags, who absorbed their 12th loss against five victories.
In the second game, Yulkien Andrada extended his three-point spraying spree to another game as San Beda smashed Lyceum of Philippines University, 75-56, in crawling closer to the Final Four.
Andrada sank six booming triples this time on his way to a career-high 26-point effort as the Lions nailed their 11th win against six defeats that also assured at least a playoff for a spot in the semifinals.
The Lions could automatically advance to the semis if it could send bitter rivals, the Letran Knights, straight into oblivion in their interesting showdown Friday.
In all, Andrada had made 14 treys in 27 attempts in their last three games, which coincided with San Beda’s resurgence.
“Nakuha ko na confidence ko sa Mapua game (I got my confidence from a game against Mapua),” Andrada said, referring to that painful loss where he missed on a potential game-tying triple from the right baseline.
The Pirates ended up with a 13-5 mark, which was good for the second seed. (PNA)
