SAN JUAN CITY — Perpetual Help claimed a critical victory against Arellano University with an 81-74 scoreline on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, bolstering its bid for a place in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 semifinals.
According to Philippines News Agency, the win was a lifeline, keeping the team in the race for the semi-finals. Perpetual's defense was pivotal in securing their sixth victory in thirteen games, whereas Arellano suffered their eleventh loss in the same number of outings. To maintain their semi-final campaign, Perpetual must win all of their remaining five games, with the next challenge being San Beda University, a team they narrowly lost to on October 17.
Saguiguit underscored the importance of the win as a morale booster before facing San Beda again. Christian Pagaran was the standout player for Perpetual with 21 points, and Marcus Nitura contributed significantly with a versatile performance, featuring 13 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals. Pagaran acknowledged the team's role in his performance, stressing the need for consistent effort. Jeadan Ongotan led the effort for Arellano with 16 points.