Thompson clutch hits bail Altas out; Blazers prevail

Games tomorrow

12 noon – EAC vs Jose Rizal (Jrs/Srs)

4 p.m. – San Sebastian vs Mapua (Srs/Jrs)

MANILA, Philippines - Earl Scottie Thompson bucked an error-filled double-double game with clutch baskets as Perpetual Help fended off Letran, 67-64, while St, Benilde rode on a big fourth quarter run to beat Lyceum, 74-66, as they remained in joint third in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Thompson, 21, scored five of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 13 rebounds and three assists to help the Altas thwart the Knights’ rally and break off a three-way tie with the Jose Rizal U Bombers and St. Benilde with their seventh victory against four losses.

Later in the day, Paolo Taha took over in the second half and the Blazers outscored the Pirates, 19-12, in the last 10 minutes to match the Altas’ 7-4 card, leaving idle Jose Rizal U at solo fifth with a 6-4 mark.

Taha, who was drafted in the third round by Kia Motors in the PBA, torched the Pirates with 12 points in the third quarter then poured in seven in the fourth to power the Blazers to the victory.

The Pirates fell to 5-6.

But the Digos, Davao del Norte native apologized for his erratic play that saw him turn the ball over eight times.

“I was mad at myself because the more I try to be cautious, the more I commit errors,” said Thompson, who leads the league in the MVP statistical race, in Pilipino. “I’m just happy that I was given a chance to redeem myself in the end.”

Thompson hit a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter as the Altas took a 62-53 lead then hit two pressure-packed free throws that gave the Las Piñas-based squad a 66-63 cushion with 49 seconds left in the contest that was close throughout.

The Altas also changed their pace after surging to a 59-48 lead in a ploy that somewhat stymied the Knights’ transition play.

“We know the Knights are hard to beat in transition because they have quick, athletic players,” said Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario. “So I told my players to slow it down and play half-court offense.”

The victory thus capped Perpetual Help’s rare two-game sweep of last year’s runner-up Letran. The Altas also snatched a close 85-82 decision over the Knights last Aug. 9.

After Letran’s Reneford Ruaya and Perpetual Help’s Harold Arboleda split their free throws, the Knights actually had 10.8 seconds to force overtime but Rey Nambatac misfired at the buzzer.

Co-captains Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz paced the Knights with 18 and 16 points, respectively, but they combined for only three points in the last 10 minutes as the Knights fell to 4-7.

In juniors’ action, the Squires slammed the Junior Altas, 96-56, to remain at second with a 9-2 card behind the San Beda Cubs (10-1).

Tommy Gedaria paced four other teammates with double-digit scores with 23 points and finished with a league-high six steals.

The scores:

First Game (Srs)

Perpetual Help 67 – Baloria 18, Thompson 16, Arboleda 10, Jolangcob 10, Alano 8, Dagangon 5, Tamayo 0, Gallardo 0, Sadiwa 0, Lucente 0

Letran 64 – Racal 18, Cruz 16, Tambeling 8, Nambatac 8, Gabawan 5, Luib 3, Quinto 3, Publico 2, Ruaya 1, Apreku 0, Singontiko 0

Quarterscores: 16-21; 38-37; 59-51; 67-64

Second Game (Srs)

St. Benilde 74 – Taha 26, Romero 18, Grey 13, Sinco 4, Jonson 3, Bartolo 3, Ongteco 3, Nayve 2, Saavedra 2, Pajarillaga 0, Altamirano 0

Lyceum 66 – Baltazar 17, Mbbida 15, Gabayni 11, Taladua 8, Zamora 6, Bulawan 4, Lesmoras 3, Malabanan 2, Maconocido 0

Quarterscores: 22-28; 36-38; 55-54; 74-66