Thompson posts 7th triple-double as Altas crush Generals

MANILA, Philippines – Earl Scottie Thompson churned out another triple-double effort as Perpetual Help outclassed Emilio Aguinaldo, 89-59, on Tuesday to jump to joint second with Letran in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Thompson posted 10 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists as early as the third quarter to register a league-record seventh triple-double of the season and 10th in his five years with the Altas.

The reigning MVP's record-setting feat was enough to power the Las Pinas-based school to its fourth straight win and 11th overall against four losses to share the No. 2 spot with Knights.

Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario said he doesn't mind Thompson's record-setting statistical feats as long as his team is winning.

"I told him he's the only one happy if he has a triple-double while win makes everyone happy," said Del Rosario in Filipino referring to the reigning MVP and this year's fifth overall pick in the PBA rookie draft.

Gerald Dizon stole some of the spotlight from Thompson as he came off the bench in unleashing a career-best 18 points including four booming triples.

Dizon dropped nine points in the second quarter when the Altas started to make their move and unloaded another nine in the third when they put a separation between them and the Generals.

The Generals fell to 2-13.

With the game already decided, a commotion between Perpetual Help's Nikolo Cabiltes and EAC's Enjerico Diego resulted to their ejection with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

Diego's teammate, Raymund Pascua, was also tossed out for his fighting stance.

In juniors' play, the San Beda Cubs smashed the San Sebastian Staglets, 88-57, to remain undefeated in 15 outings while the Brigadiers edged the Altalettes, 73-72, to improve to 8-7.

The scores:

Perpetual Help 89 – Dizon 18, Eze 11, Thompson 10, Akhuetie 9, Dagangon 9, Coronel 8, Oliveria 7, Tamayo 6, Gallardo 5, Ylagan 2, Bantayan 2, Sadiwa 2, Elopre 0, Cabiltes 0, Pido 0

EAC 59 – Mejos 13, General 11, Onwubere 8, Hamadou 8, Diego 7, Pascua 6, Munsayac 5, Bonleon 1, Pascual 0, Corilla 0, Estacio 0, Mallari 0

Quarterscores: 14-12; 39-30; 64-41; 89-59