Perpetual Help outlasted San Beda in a gut-wrenching semifinals match in the under-19 division of the National Developmental Sports League Basketball Series on Wednesday at the Metpark Sports Center.
Big plays from Lance Nitura and Kurt Velasquez allowed the Junior Altas to escape with a tense 67-63 win and advance to the championship round where they will face the San Sebastian Staglets.
Nitura spotted Velasquez on a drive-and-pitch play in the closing seconds of the match and the long two-point conversion from the latter at the corner put the Junior Altas back on the driver’s seat.
In the next play, the Red Cubs had an opportunity to equalize when Dwayne Nonato picked up a foul from Brent Rosales, but the usually reliable guard missed both charities.
A helter-skelter sequence ensued in the next plays when Enrico Feliciano stole the ball off an inbound play from Perpetual Help, but on transition, he threw a bad pass which was anticipated by Jim Corpuz of the Junior Altas as Arkin Cristobal scored for the Las Piñas-based dribblers for the final tally.
It was a hard-fought win by the Junior Altas, who battled their way back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth period before completing a victory via the backdoor.
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