Thompson will try to get Altas over the hump next year

Earl Thompson is the first Perpetual Help player to win the MVP since 2000. Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Perpetual Help’s Earl Thompson was joined by his teammate Harold Arboleda at center court as both received their hardware as part of the Mythical Team Monday.

But that marked the last time Thompson would share the court with Arboleda, one of the Atlas’ graduating stars along with Juneric Baloria and Justin Alano.

With the departure of the three, Thompson will be left to carry much of the load next season, which will also be his last playing year.

“It will be hard to say because we’ll be losing four veterans. But I will try to carry the team with the help of my teammates,” said the 21-year-old Thompson, who was officially named MVP of the NCAA Season 90 men’s basketball tournament before Game 1 of the Finals between San Beda and Arellano tipped off at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The 6-foot-2 Thompson was also named into the All-Defensive Team as the only guard in the squad.

Thompson averaged 17.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.7 steals to lead the Altas’ Final Four run before falling to defending champion San Beda.

“At first, I didn’t expect to win MVP but all the hard work in practice paid off,” Thompson, who flew all the way here from his hometown in Digos City, Davao just to receive his award, said in Filipino.