Bright Akhuetie delivered anew when University of Perpetual Help needed it most, as the Altas thwarted the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, 71-68, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 92 seniors basketball tournament on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Nigerian big man saved his best for last and scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter when the Pirates, behind Shaq Alanes, looked headed to the victory.
Akhuetie struggled for the most part of the game but got his rhythm in the final period, where he nailed 10 of his 13 points with the Altas holding the Pirates scoreless in the first six minutes of the quarter to book their third straight win and fifth overall against two losses.
More important, it sent the Las Piñas-based dribblers from joint No. 4 with Arellano University to a share of No. 2 with Mapua and Letran—two games behind solo leader San Beda.
“It was our defense that helped us and we never gave up,” Perpetual Help Coach Gimwell Gican said. “Bright [Akhuetie] also stepped up big even though he struggled almost the whole game.”
The loss halted Lyceum’s three-game streak for a 3-4 (win-loss) record.
Also on Friday, Remy Morada exploded in the fourth quarter as Emilio Aguinaldo College overcame San Sebastian, 73-67, to snap out of a five-game skid. Morada fired seven of his 18 points in the final quarter to help the Generals seal their second win in seven games.
The Stags dropped to 1-6.
While Morada did the scoring, his Cameroonian teammate Hamadou Laminou covered the other areas and finished with 18 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks.