University of Perpetual Help vented its ire on Emilio Aguinaldo College with a 73-67 victory on Saturday, Sept. 21, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Still licking their wounds from back-to-back losses from heavyweight teams Mapua Cardinals and College of St. Benilde Blazers, the Altas immediately regained lost footing and outhustled the Generals throughout to post their third win in five matches.

After Cedric Abis drained the first jumper for a 2-0 edge, Perpetual never relinquised its lead since then with Mark Gojo Cruz and Christian Pagaran also putting on all the work on both ends.

They led by as many as 16 points, 70-54, after a Pagaran jumper in the last 2:18 of the game, and protected it until the final buzzer despite the late attempts from EAC.

King Gurtiza actually launched a 13-3 assault for the Generals in that final two minutes, but ran out of time.

Cruz delivered another impressive all-around game of 18 points, five rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals for the Altas, while Pagaran added 15 points, nine boards and four assists.

Abis, for his part, contributed 11 points on a 5-of-6 clip from the field.

The Generals couldn’t keep their momentum going after a 68-55 upset win from the defending champion San Beda Red Lions and fell to their third defeat against two victories.

Gurtiza scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Gil Quinal chipped in 15 points built on three triples, and Wilmar Oftana scored 15 points and three steals, but their efforts for EAC went futile.

The scores:

PERPETUAL HELP 73 - Gojo Cruz 18, Pagaran 15, Abis 11, Orgo 9, Boral 5, Gelsano 5, Montemayor 3, Nuñez 2, Pizarro 2, Sevilla 2 Cauguiran 1, Manuel 0, Movida 0.

EAC 67 - Gurtiza 17, Quinal 16, Oftana 15, Ochavo 4, Luciano 4, Umpad 4, Bagay 4, Angeles 2, Ednilag 1, Manacho 0, Doromal 0, Bacud 0, Loristo 0, Pagsanjan 0, Devara 0.

Quarters: 18-12; 33-28; 49-42; 73-67.