Altas trim Cardinals; Chiefs scuttle Pirates

LPU’s Rho Maconnocido steals the ball from Jiovani Jalalon of Arellano, at the San Juan arena. INQUIRER PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Earl Thompson and Juneric Baloria powered Perpetual Help to an explosive start as the Altas ripped the Mapua Cardinals, 91-57, in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament Monday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Thompson and Baloria teamed up for 53 points, just four points shy of the Cardinals’ total output, as the Altas registered one of the league’s most lopsided victory in three years.

“We expected to win over Mapua, but we didn’t expect it to be that big,” Altas coach Aric del Rosario said of the 34-point rout, the biggest since San Beda’s 54-point dumping of Emilio Aguinaldo College, 118-64, in 2011.

“We played good defense, the passing was good. We played as one team.” Thompson, who posted career highs in scoring and rebounding, finished with 27 points, 16 boards, six assists and two steals, while Baloria, last season’s Rookie of the Year, erupted for 26.

Arellano also opened its campaign strong under new coach Jerry Codiñera as the Chiefs downed the Lyceum Pirates, 93-80, in the second game.

John Pinto spearheaded the Chiefs’ second-half assault to finish with 20 points, 16 coming in the last two quarters where they outscored the Pirates, 56-39.

“It’s my first game as Arellano coach and I really didn’t know how they will respond,” said Codiñera. “I just relied on my judgment and trusted my veterans. We made some adjustments after halftime and it triggered the rally.”

Thompson and Baloria already had a combined 40 points for the Altas after three quarters, five more than the entire Cardinals’ measly 35-point output.

Aside from emerging as the top scorer, Thompson also shot a notable 59 percent from the field.

“This is his last year and I told him to make a mark before he graduates,” Del Rosario said of Thompson, a native of Digos City in Davao del Sur.

The Altas, a semifinalist in the last two years, zoomed to a 25-10 start and controlled the game all the way as the Cardinals struggled with a 35 percent shooting clip.

Just a few weeks before the season, the Cardinals absorbed a big blow as they lost top scorer Josan Nimes to injury for the second straight year.

The scores:

First Game

PERPETUAL HELP 91—Thompson 27, Baloria 26, Jolangcob 8, Dizon 6, Arboleda 6, Sadiwa 5, Bantayan 4, Dagangon 4, Tamayo 3, Alano 2, Gallardo 0, Lucente 0, Pido 0.

MAPUA 57—Eriobu 16 Estrella 14, Cantos 6, Biteng 5, Isit 5, Saitanan 4, Serrano 3, Gabo 2, Villasenor 2, Canaynay 0, Tubiano 0, Layug 0, Galoso 0, Medina 0.

Quarters: 20-10, 39-26, 65-35, 91-57

Second Game

ARELLANO 93—Pinto 20, Hernandez 16, Agovida 13, Nicholls 12, Holts 11, Jalalon 9, Bangga 6, Caperal 4, Salcedo 2, Gumaru 0, Ciriacruz 0, Palma 0, Enriquez 0, Cadavis 0.

LYCEUM 80—Baltazar 15, Ko 15, Zamora 13, Bulawan 12, Maconocido 9, Gabayni 8, Soliman 5, Lesmoras 2, Malabanan 1,Elmejrab 0.

Quarters: 16-21, 37-41, 65-58, 93-80