Axel Doromal and Shane Menina connived in the payoff period as Arellano escaped with a 61-59 win over Perpetual Help in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament Friday, Sept. 16, at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City.
Doromal and Menina joined forces in the final quarter, combining 17 of the Chiefs' 19 points in their nip-and-tuck affair to take a 2-1 record.
Doromal finished with 19 points, nine coming from the crucial fourth period, and four assists while Menina had 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
"The players are adjusting to my system so every time we had a defense we'll just review, and luckily naging effective 'yong defense namin sa Perpetual today," said Chiefs head coach Cholo Martin, who emphasized on the usage of 1-2-2 zone defense.
But once that strategy was checked by the Altas, which enabled them to take the lead heading into the payoff period, Martin resorted to man-to-man defense and the Chiefs put the clamps down for the retake.
"I've been telling them. Ni-review naman namin 'yong play ng Perpetual so alam naman nila kung saan pupunta, 'yong adjustment," explained Martin. "Basta lang, gawin namin 'yong ginagawa sa amin 'yong pressure defense and once take this, we have to run. Luckily, they were able to overcome the lead."
The likes of Danielle Mallari and Cade Flores were what Arellano needed as well in the paint sans Justin Arana, who is already signed with Converge in the PBA, as the two combined for 17 points and a total of 29 rebounds.
With 1:30 left, Flores grabbed a crucial rebound and Menina did not waste that opportunity and went coast-to-coast en route to a 59-56 lead.
Perpetual had clear chances in the ensuing plays but JP Boral, Shawn Orgo, and even Kim Aurin's attempts from beyond the arc went into naught.
Menina drained two free throws to ice the game before Jelo Razon sank a triple, the one shot the Altas needed earlier for the tiebreaker, at the buzzer as Perpetual sustained a 1-1 slate.
Aurin was the lone bright spot for Perpetual but his 27-point performance built on five three-pointers, was definitely spoiled. He also grabbed nine rebounds and three assists.
San Sebastian and St. Benilde are battling each other for their respective second wins at press time. ###
The scores:
Arellano (61) -- Doromal 19, Menina 13, Mallari 9, Flores 8, Abastillas 5, Mantua 3, Tolentino 3, Oliva 1, Oftana 0, Domingo 0, Talampas 0.
Perpetual (59) -- Aurin 27, Omega 9, Martel 6, Nitura 5, Barcuma 3, Razon 3, Egan 2, Ferreras 2, Flores 2, Orgo 0, Cuevas 0, Boral 0, Roque 0, Nunez 0, Movida 0.
Quarterscores: 7-13, 27-24, 42-47, 61-59