Carlo Ferreras and Steven Flores took charge of Perpetual's offense and hacked out a 89-83 stunner against College of St. Benilde, 89-83, in the second round of the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

In the aftermath of the scuffle which involved the Blazers and John Amores of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, the Altas did their job on the hard court and kept their campaign alive with a 6-9 record.

Ferreras finished with 19 points along with four rebounds, Flores had an all-around performance with 18 points on an 8-of-12 shooting on top of seven rebounds, while Cedrick Abis tallied a rare triple-double outing with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists for Perpetual.

The Altas trio also connived to douse the 22-point performance of Benilde sharpshooter Miggy Oczon, who also had four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Perpetual actually led by as many as 18 points earlier before St. Benilde, behind the efforts of Oczon, came alive late in the payoff period and cut the deficit down to eight points, 86-74.

Just when the Blazers began to retaliate, Jasper Cuevas retook the lead on behalf of the Altas with a one-hander jumper down to the last minute.

Jimboy Pasturan then sank a technical free throw in the ensuing play before Oczon fired a triple from the right wing to make it a nine-point affair, 88-79, with 39.9 seconds left.

Rey Barcuma missed a pair of free throws with 25.8 ticks to go and that situation pumped life for CSB as Oczon once again drained a three at the top of the key over the outstretched arms of Jeff Egan en route to a two-ball possession at 88-82 with 16.5 seconds in play.

In the last 9.9 seconds, perhaps the most crucial moment for the Blazers, Oczon, who drew a foul from beyond the arc and forced Egan to get fouled out, only drained one of his three free throws as he battled for the loose ball afterward.

The Blazers still took hold of possession with 8.5 seconds left but Oczon missed a crucial triple from the left corner as Mark Omega secured the rebound along with Perpetual's victory.

Will Gozum chalked up 13 points and six rebounds while JC Cullar and Robi Nayve scored 10 points apiece with the former grabbing four rebounds and dishing out five assists for CSB, which slipped to a 10-4 record.

Meanwhile, before the NCAA curtain-raiser kicked off, Pasturan and Taine Davis earlier went to the San Juan City Prosecutor's Office to file charges of physical injury against Amores. CSB head coach Charles Tiu also accompanied both players and witnessed the filing of charges.

It would be recalled that both Pasturan and Davis were just two of the Blazers who got assaulted by Amores in the Blazers' 71-51 blowout win last Nov. 8.

On Nov. 9, Amores, who had charged toward the Blazers bench and punched the likes of Pasturan, Davis, Mark Sangco, and even Oczon, then was handed an indefinite suspension for his actions by the NCAA Management Committee.

At press time, the undermanned Heavy Bombers, who only have six players on the field, are playing against the San Sebastian Stags.

The Scores:

PERPETUAL 89 -- Ferreras 19, Flores 18, Abis 13, Egan 8, Barcuma 8, Roque 8, Martel 6, Cuevas 5, Omega 4, Boral 0.

CSB 83 -- Oczon 22, Gozum 13, Cullar 10, Nayve 10, Corteza 9, Pasturan 8, Marcos 6, Sumabat 5, Davis 0, Carlos 0, Lim 0.

Quarters: 23-14, 49-40, 68-59, 89-83.