Perpetual overcomes St. Benilde

MANILA, Philippines - Perpetual Help took the upperhand in a spirited three-way battle for the last two semifinal berths with St. Benilde and Jose Rizal U, holding off the Blazers, 65-62, and seizing third place in the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Earl Scottie Thompson dished out an MVP-like performance of 20 points and 12 rebounds, falling just two assists short of a triple-double to help power the Altas to the crucial win, their 11th against six losses.

The setback dropped St. Benilde to joint fourth with JRU heading to the final week of the double-round elims.

“He’s the hardest worker in practice that’s why it’s reflected in his game,” said Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario in Pilipino, referring to Thompson.

The Altas will need to beat the ousted San Sebastian Stags on Saturday to clinch at least a playoff for a semifinal berth.

The Blazers came into the match eyeing a victory and even a shot at a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis but came out short of their mission, needing to sweep their last two games to stay in the hunt.

The victory also bolstered Thompson’s bid for the MVP where he is the current leader although he might bow out if Perpetual fails to make it to the Final Four.

“I’m thinking more of helping my school win a championship. It will only be a bonus if I’m named MVP,” said Thompson, who took charge in the fourth and buried clutch basket while setting up teammates for easy twinners.

After the Blazers closed the gap on back-to-back triples by Pons Saavedra and skipper Mark Romero, 56-57, Thompson stepped up to fire six of the Altas’s next eight points.

The 21-year-old Digos, Davao del Sur native then fed Alano for a basket and two free throws then scored on a tough reverse lay-up to give the Las Piñas-based squad a seven-point cushion.

Romero drained two fouls shots while Jonathan Grey stole the ball from Thompson for an unmolested layup that pushed St. Benilde back to within three, 62-65.

But the Altas shut down St. Benilde gunners the rest of the way with Gab Dagangon swatting a Romero shot to seal their victory.

The scores 

Perpetual Help 65 – Thompson 20, Alano 15, Baloria 15, Dagangon 8, Arboleda 5, Lucente 2, Oliveria 0, Ylagan 0, Gallado 0, Sadiwa 0, Jolangcob 0

St. Benilde 62 – Romero 24, Taha 10, Sinco 8, Grey 6, Saavedra 5, Altamirano 3, Nayve 2, Pajarillaga 2, Ongtenco 2, Jonson 0, Bartolo 0 

Quarterscores: 14-15; 38-27; 52-48; 65-62