UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help hosts San Sebastian College today with the Altas hoping for a win that would keep them in the top four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 94 seniors basketball tournament at the Perpetual Help Gym in Las Piñas City.
Reeling from a 77-91 loss to league-leader the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates last Friday, the Altas hope to improve their 2-2 won-loss record when they face the fifth-placed Stags (3-4) at 4 p.m.
Perpetual Help is currently running fourth behind Lyceum (7-0), San Beda (4-0) and Letran (4-1). In its bid to remain solid inside the magic four, Head Coach Frankie Lim said the team should exert more effort.
“We had mental lapses. We can’t play like that and expect to win,” Lim said.
The Altas had a closest reach of 67-70 in the fourth frame but the push came too short in its attempt to blemish the immaculate record of the PIrates.
They are expected to rely on Nigerian Prince Eze and prolific guard Edgar Charcos.
Eze has been averaging 13.8 points, and league-highs of 16.5 rebounds and 5.3 blocks, while Charcos is second-best in scoring at 19.8 points behind Lyceum’s CJ Perez (20.3 points).
The Stags, meanwhile, are coming from a 90-74 triumph over Mapùa Cardinals last Tuesday, but they are still playing without RK Ilagan who serves team suspension.
“We just have to make do with what we have,” San Sebastian mentor Egay Macaraya said.
Without Ilagan, Alvin Capobres provided the scoring punch with his career-high 21 points against the Cardinals.