MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help hopes to keep its win run going and join five-peat seeking San Beda at the helm as it clashes with Emilio Aguinaldo College today in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The Altas, who have made it to the Final Four the last two seasons, trounced the Mapua Cardinals, 91-57, then snatched an 82-79 victory over the San Sebastian Stags to remain one of the three unbeaten squads in the early going of the double-round elimination phase.
Back in the Perpetual roster after being sidelined by an injury last year is Earl Thompson who has normed 26.5 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the first two games, keeping the Altas in joint second with the Arellano Chiefs.
“I just want to make up for last season and help my team in any way I could,” said Thompson. the 20-year-old Digos, Davao del Sur native.
Thompson, along with Harold Arboleda and Juneric Baloria, are expected to lead Perpetual Help’s charge again in their 4 p.m. duel with the EAC side, which split its first two matches.
San Sebastian, which fell to a 2-1, tangles with winless St. Benilde at 2 p.m.
Arboleda missed a triple-double effort against the Stags as he made 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists while Baloria chipped in 18 markers.
Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario, however, said the team needs to play consistently. The Altas led by as many as 23 points against the Stags but trailed by six points in the fourth quarter.
But rookie Ric Gallardo stepped up, scoring three points, coming through with a block and hauling down two rebounds in the final minute to help lift the Altas to victory.
“We would have lost that one if we didn’t get lucky late in the game. We need to play consistent and with the same intensity from start to finish,” said del Rosario.
The Generals, on the other hand, try to rebound from their 73-80 setback to the Chiefs last Friday and improve to 2-1.