Shane Menina and Axel Doromal connived and posted huge numbers to help lift Arellano past Perpetual, 86-81, in the second round of the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Menina carried the cudgels for the Chiefs, posting 25 points on top of seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals while Doromal also dropped 20 points along with four rebounds, four assists, and three assists.
Cade Flores likewise had a double-double performance of 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Chiefs though have to make their gallant stand in the payoff period after being outscored by the Altas, 28-8, behind the efforts of Rey Barcuma, Carlo Ferreras, and Shawn Orgo which erased a huge 28-point deficit.
Trailing by five points in the last minute, 84-79, Orgo, who finished with 14 points, missed a crucial three-pointer for Perpetual but eventually made it up with a huge breakaway layup with 11.7 seconds to make it a one-ball possession.
Art Oliva, however, drained two free throws to ice the game with 5.3 ticks left.
Jielo Razon had his final chance from beyond the arc with 1.8 seconds remaining before drawing a foul and getting into the free throw line.
Razon though fired blanks from the charity stripes and missed all of his three attempts before Flores secured the rebound for the win.
Barcuma paced the Altas with 16 points along with five assists and three rebounds while Carlo Ferreras also chalked up 16 points and eight rebounds.
Arellano improved to a 7-9 record while Perpetual slipped to 7-10 slate although the match was deemed a non-bearing one as defending champion Letran, College of St. Benilde, Lyceum, and San Beda already completed the Final Four cast.
The Scores:
ARELLANO 86 -- Menina 25, Doromal 20, Flores 10, Abastillas 7, Talampas 6, Oftana 5, Mallari 4, Sunga 4, Oliva 3, Tolentino 2, Mantua 0, Domingo 0.
PERPETUAL 81 -- Barcuma 16, Ferreras 16, Orgo 14, Razon 9, Egan 8, Boral 6, Abis 4, Omega 4, Flores 2, Cuevas 2, Roque 0, Movida 0, Nitura 0.
Quarters: 22-20, 44-35, 78-53, 86-81.