Perpetual routs Lyceum-B, enters Fr. Martin semis

MANILA, Philippines – The University of Perpetual Help Altas got big baskets from Juneric Baloria, Akhuetie Bright and Earl Thompson as they subdued the Lyceum Philippines University-B Pirates, 89-73, Sunday and assured themselves of a semifinal berths in the 20th Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament.

Baloria hit 23 points while Bright had 16 and Thompson eked out 13 for the Altas, who picked up their eighth straight win at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola.

In the junior division, the Emilio Aguinaldo College-ICA Brigadiers weathered the outside shooting of promising cager Patrick Lapena and put away the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, 76-75.

John Menil fired 20 points for the LPU Junior Pirates, who turned back the University of Perpetual Help Altalettes, 85-79, in another secondary match.

The Jonas Kintanar-coached Altas are now a win away from completing a nine-game sweep of their Group A assignment, and they are ahead of two contenders, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals.

Bright’s inside presence and a follow-up in the last 6:13 of the third period allowed the Altas to move away from a 44-40 halftime lead,  and move further ahead, 53-48.

They shot five of six free throws in the last 4:08 as the Altas widened their lead to 12, 61-49. Baloria’s trey with 3:25 left handed the Altas a 65-49 spread in the ensuing play.

Back-to-back triples from Chris Elopre and Thompson towards the end of the third allowed the Altas to stay out of range, 72-58.

The Altas can take the first semis berth in their bracket if they win over the Centro Escolar University-Malolos Scorpions in the last elimination round game this Sunday.