Thompson registers triple-double as Altas nip Generals

MANILA, Philippines – Earl Scottie Thompson came through with his first triple-double performance of his career as he powered Perpetual Help to a 73-65 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo and into a share of the lead with four-peat champions San Beda in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Friday.

Thompson played like a man possessed as he piled up 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists and topped it with three steals to help the Altas nail their third straight win to join the Lions at the helm.

It was Thompson's first triple-double effort after moving one assist away from attaining such feat with 16 points, 11 boards and nine dimes in a win over Stl. Benilde two seasons back. The achievement was likewise the league's first of its kind since San Sebastian's Calvin Abueva did the trick by coming up with 21 points, 20 caroms and 10 assists also two years back.

"I just want to help the team in any way I can," said Thompson, a 21-year-old Digos, Davao del Sur native, in Filipino.

Thompson, who averaged 26.5 points, 10 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and a block going into this game, also impressed his coach, Aric del Rosario.

"Earl is one of the hardest worker of the team and it's paying off," said Del Rosario.

Juneric Baloria and Harold Arboleda, playing their final season, provided the help with 18 and 15 points, respectively.

The Altas built a 21-point lead on a triple by Arboleda midway in the third quarter but cooled off amid a furious fightback by the Generals, who managed to close in at 62-55 in the middle of the final canto.

It was EAC's last as Perpetual Help answered with six unanswered points to finally break loose.

Earlier, San Sebastian survived a pesky St. Benilde, 74-72, to improve to a 3-1 (win-loss) slate.

The Stags made just five foul shots in the last seven minutes but made some key stops in the stretch including in the final play when, up by just two, they forced the Blazers' Jonathan Grey to take a contested three-point shot that hit nothing but air as time expired.

"We knew that as long as we made stops, even if we couldn't make a basket, we'll have a chance," said San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson.

Jovit dela Cruz led all scorers with 18 points while Bradwyn Guinto had 13 points and 14 caroms.

It was also the dela Cruz-Guinto duo who made things happen in the third quarter when the Stags built a 13-point advantage, its biggest of the match, by combining 15 points in the period.

The Stags also a drew a career effort from rookie Rhanzelle Yong, a first cousin of former Stag and NCAA MVP Ian Sangalang who scored 16 on an impressive seven-of-10 shooting and spiked it with eight caroms and a block.

"I really want to play college basketball for my alma mater because without it, I will not learn what I learn from high school," said the 19-year-old Yong, a former Staglet who was being recruited by San Beda and National U before deciding to suit up for San Sebastian, in Filipino.

The Blazers fell to their third straight defeat.

The scores:

First Game

San Sebastian 74 – Dela Cruz 18, Yong 16, Perez 15, Guinto 13, Ortuoste 10, Fabian 2, Balucanag 0, Calisaan 0, Costelo 0, Aquino 0

St. Benilde 72 – Romero 17, Nayve 13, Grey 9, Bartolo 7, Taha 6, Ongteco 6, Sinco 4, Argamino 2, Saavedra 0

Quarterscores: 20-22; 40-38; 63-52; 74-72

Second Game

Perpetual Help 73 – Baloria 18, Thompson 15, Arboleda 15, Alano 10, Gallardo 4, Dagangon 4, Dizon 3, Bantayan 2, Sadiwa 2, Jolangcob 0, Oliveria 0

EAC 65 – Jamon 15, Happi 14, Aguilar 11, Arquero 6, Tayongtong 5, Pascual 4, Onwubere 4, King 3, Mejos 3, Santos 0, Saludo 0

Quarterscores: 12-13; 35-20; 59-44; 73-65