University of Perpetual Help relied on former FEU Tamaraw Patrick Sleat in pulling off a 67-54 victory over the San Sebastian Stags yesterday that jump started its NCAA Season 101 campaign at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
The 6-0 forward debuted with 10 points including a triple, four rebounds, five assists and a steal without committing a single turnover before fouling out late in the final quarter.
It was Sleat’s eight points in the opening period that sparked the breakaway run and set the tone for the one-sided win.
‘Patrick was big for us,’ said UPHSD coach Olsen Racela, referring to his former player when he was still with the Tams in the UAAP. ‘He is one player who can create, unselfish and looks for his open teammates and has experience.’
‘We expect a lot of things from him and our players look up to him,’ he added.
In the other game, Jose Rizal U gifted its coach Nani Epondulan a fitting debut as it stunned Letran, 73-69.
Mark Gojo Cruz led the scoring for Perpetual with 15 points, including three booming treys, while John Abis and John Boral, the team’s elder statesmen, chipped in 10 points apiece while combining for 13 rebounds while teaming up with Sleat in presiding over their rock-solid interior defense.
‘I like our defensive effort in this game, that was our battle cry before the game,’ said Racela.
The result spoiled the coaching debut of Rob Labagala at SSC-R.