Amiel Acido stars anew as Perpetual shocks Letran for Final Four berth

Published March 1, 2024 1:03pm

Updated March 1, 2024 1:03pm

Amiel Acido picked up where he left off as he steered University of Perpetual Help System DALTA to a 94-88 stunner against Colegio de San Juan de Letran and a Final Four ticket in the NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball tournament on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The 19-year-old forward, who was coming off a triple-double outing last game against Jose Rizal University, poured in 17 points in the third quarter to finish with 27 points together with eight rebounds and two assists as the Junior Altas improved to 7-1. 

The Squires, meanwhile, snapped their five-game winning streak to slip to 6-2. 

Acido’s veteran leadership and steady presence allowed Perpetual to weather a fourth quarter rally from the defending champions led by Jovel Baliling, who buried four triples early in the frame before Titing Manalili knocked down a long bomb of his own to cut the deficit to just three, 81-84. 

Prior to that, the Squires once stared at a 18-point hole after Acido caught fire in the third, highlighted by a personal 9-0 run that sent Perpetual to a 77-59 cushion. 

The 6-foot-3 Acido then scored on a putback before sinking two free throws for a crucial 88-81 lead, but Manalili connected a quick three-pointer with 20 seconds left, 88-92. The Squires, however, ran out of time for a comeback act. 

Gojo Cruz, who sealed the deal with two freebies, tallied 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and one block while Jan Pagulayan and Lebron Jhames Daep chipped in 14 and 11 markers apiece. 

In the first game, Jose Rizal University cruised to its third win after eking out an 82-79 win against San Beda University behind Lee Marin and Benedict Rivera. 

Marin churned out 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and block while Rivera collected 14 markers, three boards, two steals, and one dime as the Light Bombers improved to 3-5. 

The Red Cubs, on the other hand, dropped to 4-4. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News