Altas, Bombers duel for share of NC lead

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal face off today for a share of the lead with Letran while San Sebastian seeks solo third against Mapua in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan today.

The Altas lived up to their pre-tournament hype, blasting the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 69-49, with the Las Piñas-based slightly favored to get past the rookie-laden Bombers, who tripped the Cardinals, 83-72, last week.

“It’s just the first game and we still have a long, long way to go,” said Perpetual coach Aric del Rosario, in Filipino.

Gametime is at 6 p.m. with the winner joining early pacesetter and last year’s runner-up Letran, which turned back EAC, 79-74, last week for its second straight win.

Meanwhile, the Stags, who bowed to the Knights in last week’s inaugurals, try to come up with a follow-up to their thrilling 78-76 victory over the Arellano U Chiefs last Thursday as they gun for their second straight win against the Cardinals at 4 p.m.

Perpetual kept the core of the roster that reached the Final Four last year and the Altas are expected to use their experience and poise against the Bombers, who showed up with 11 neophytes against the Cards.

Nigerian Nosa Omorogbe and Earl Thompson paced the Altas with 14 points apiece while Juneric Baloria, a rookie from Pampanga, debuted with 12 points.