BRIGHT AKHUETIE played like a wrecking machine as University Perpetual Help clobbered defending champion Letran, 61-55, on Friday in Season 92 National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball action at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
A man mountain at 6-foot-8, Akhuetie booked monster numbers in the lopsided victory—a game-best 21 points and 16 rebounds that went with three emphatic blocks. The Altas improved to 3-2 won-lost, in the process putting doubt to Letran’s title-retention bid as the Knights fell to their second loss in six games.
“My job is to play. When I go in there, I try my best. It’s basketball, everyone should get chances,” Akhuetie said.
The victory also erased the stigma of their stinging 70-88 defeat to the San Beda Red Lions on Tuesday.
For it was defense that sealed it.
“The players worked hard on defense, they really focused on defense after our loss to San Beda,” Perpetual Help Coach Gimwell Gican said.
In Friday’s other game, Mapua drew strength from Allwell Oraeme’s 13 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks to beat San Sebastian, 88-75, to nail its fifth win against a defeat. The Stags fell to 1-4.
The Cardinals unleashed a 10-2 run midway the fourth period behind Darell Menina’s two three-pointers.
Exeqiel Biteng led Mapùa with 19 points, while Menina added 15. Justine Mercado finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for San Sebastian.
The Altas held the Knights to their season-worst scoring output. Letran entered the game averaging 79.2 points per game. Perpetual Help also forced Letran to turn the ball over 22 times, its season worst after norming 16 errors in its first five games.
The Las Piñas-based school also found a way to slow down Rey Nambatac, who missed eight of his 14 shots and wound up with 19 points, a far cry from his career-best 40 points in their 90-77 win over San Sebastian last week.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes