Thompson lifts Altas past Blazers

PAOLO Taha of St. Benilde goes for a layup off Justine Alano of Perpetual Help in yesterday’s match. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Earl Thompson made the biggest plays down the stretch to lift Perpetual Help to a narrow 65-62 victory over St. Benilde yesterday that propped up the Altas’ Final Four drive in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With their postseason hopes hanging by a thread, the Altas turned to the league’s Most Valuable Player race leader who scattered 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, including a key offensive board off a Juneric Baloria missed triple with 2.5 seconds remaining that preserved the victory.

Perpetual Help climbed to solo third spot by improving to 11-6, but the Altas’ place in the postseason is not yet guaranteed.

Even if Perpetual beats San Sebastian on Saturday, St. Benilde—which fell into a tie for fourth with Jose Rizal U with a 10-6 record—can still forge a three-team logjam at the end of the elimination round if the Blazers and Bombers sweep their remaining games.

San Beda, which holds a 13-4 card, actually benefited from the Perpetual Help victory as it secured a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four.

“We came into the game with a mindset of doing everything just to win,” said Thompson who shrugged off cramps late in the game. “We knew we couldn’t afford to lose.”

Thompson scored the Altas’ last basket—a reverse layup—that boosted the Altas to 65-57 with 2:35 remaining, before collaring two offensive rebounds inside the final minute, giving Perpetual Help room to breathe.

St. Benilde threatened with Mark Romero nailing two free throws, before Jonathan Grey scored off a steal to cut the deficit to three points heading into the final 1:35.

Justine Alano had 15 points, including six straight after the Blazers came within 56-57 with 5:30 after Romero’s triple.

The Altas got going in the second period after a 30-minute power outage at the venue as Thompson fired 10 points in the quarter as part of a 24-8 run that allowed Perpetual Help to seize control.

But the Blazers stayed within striking distance behind Romero, who had 14 of his 24 points in the second half.

“The team showed a lot of heart,” said Altas coach Aric del Rosario in Filipino. “They just refused to lose.”

The scores:

PERPETUAL HELP 65—Thompson 20, Alano 15, Baloria 15, Dagangon 8, Arboleda 5, Lucente 2, Ylagan 0, Gallardo 0, Sadiwa 0, Jolangcob 0, Oliviera 0.

5. BENILDE 62—Romero 24, Taha 10, Sinco 8, Grey 6, Saavedra 5. Altamirano 3, Nayve 2, Pajarillaga 2, Ongteco 2, Jonson 0, Bartolo 0.

Quarters: 14-15, 38-27, 52-48, 65-62