Altas aim to continue streak, clash with Bombers

Games Wednesday

(The Arena, San Juan)                                    

12 p.m. UPHSD vs JRU (Jrs)                                                                

2 p.m.  UPHSD vs JRU (Srs)                                                                 

4 p.m.  SSC-R   vs AU (Srs)                                                                  

6 p.m.  SSC-R   vs AU (Jrs)                  

MANILA, Philippines – Perpetual Help seeks to stick closer with league-leader San Beda and preserve its unbeaten slate as it clashes with an unpredictable Jose Rizal today in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Wednesday.

Led by the prolific troika of Earl Scottie Thompson, Harold Arboleda and Juneric Baloria, the Altas have strung together three straight victories, including a 73-65 win over the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals last July 11 for their best start in years.

Another victory in their 2 p.m. showdown with the Bombers would send the Las Pinas-based dribblers to their fourth win in row and half a game behind the Lions, who lead the league with a pristine 5-0 (win-loss) record.

Perpetual Help's success though hinges on how Thompson, Arboleda and Baloria – who have been carrying the weight for the team as the three lead not just the team in all departments but also the league itself – will perform.

In this early stage of the tournament, Thompson has been dishing out an MVP-like performance with an impressive 75.67 MVP statistical points after he averaged league-highs 22.67 points and seven assists, 11 rebounds (third best), two steals (fourth best) and nearly a block a game while keeping his turnover rate at the minimum with just a 1.67 norm.

Interestingly, Arboleda and Baloria are running second and third with the former averaging 13.33 points, eight boards, 4.67 dimes and a steal and the latter 20.67 points, 5.33 caroms, 2.67 assists and 1.33 steals.

Perpetual Help coach Aric dela Rosario, however, said he will need the other players to pitch in and help in both ends of the floor.

"They have been carrying the team so far," said Del Rosario in Filipino referring to Thompson, Arboleda and Baloria.

"But we can't always rely on them, we need the other players to step up and provide them support," he added.

Del Rosario is also a little wary of the Bombers, who have lost their first two games, won the next two and dropped one game to fall to 2-3.

"Jose Rizal is unpredictable, we have to watch out," said Del Rosario.

San Sebastian and Arellano U, tied at third spot with 3-1 records, for their part, try to part ways as the two clash at 4 p.m.

Both the Stags and the Chiefs are coming off hard-earned triumphs with the former edging the St Benilde Blazers, 74-72, last July 11 and the latter surviving the upset-conscious Mapua Cardinals, 68-63, last Friday.

San Sebastian will rely on a lethal combination of talented veterans in CJ Perez, Jovit dela Cruz, Jamil Ortuoste and Bradwyn Guinto and promising rookies Ranzhelle Yong and Michael Calisaan.

Aside from Levi Hernandez's team-high 16-point average, Arellano U has been drawing big numbers from American neophyte Dioncee Holts, who norms 11.25 points on an efficient 64-percent clip from the field and 90-percent from the foul line and a team-best 11.50 boards.

"Dioncee (Holts) is a blessing to us, he is putting up those big numbers silently off the bench," said Arellano U mentor Jerry Codinera.