Sophomore Scott Thompson finished with a near triple-double, with 16 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and five steals across his name.
“Di ko inexpect na mararating namin ang ganito. Kasi sa FilOil, sa FMC nababasa kami. Sabi ko lang laro lang tayo baka sakali makatsamba,” said Perpetual coach Aric Del Rosario, who has turned the Altas into a contender.
“Sinabi ko din sa kanila na pag pinakawalan natin ang game na to, mababalewala ang ibang panalo natin.”
After a tight contest in the first two quarters, and a 36-all deadlock at the 7:48 mark of the third, the Altas found themselves getting easy baskets that pushed them to a 17-0 run that left the Blazers scoreless for over five minutes.
Thompson, alongside their reinforcements Femi Babayemi and Nosa Omorogbe, teamed up for that game-turning run.
The former doormat of the league led by as many as 19 before the end of the third. Perpetual’s biggest margin stood at 27, 80-53 with less than two minutes left in play.
Leading scorer Jett Vidal only had two points in the first half but erupted for 14 points in the second half, 12 of which came in the fourth.
“Hard-working ang batang ito at maganda ang ugali. Para siyang hindi napapagod, laging nag-weights at tumatakbo sa track,” said Del Rosario about the 19-year-old Thompson.
“Nagsisipag lang ako lagi, yung shooting lagi, and madalas, ako nauuna sa court and ako din huling umaalis,” said the Davao native Thompson, who makes it a point to join their Team B practice in the morning of a game day.
Jonathan Grey led the Blazers, who dropped their fourth game, with 13 points. Joel Tolentino and Mark Romero added 10 apiece.
The scores:
Perpetual (84) — Thompson 16, Vidal 16, Omorogbe 14, Paulino 11, Elopre 10, Babayemi 7, Arboleda 6, Asuncion 2, Allen 2, Cenita 0, Jolangcob 0, Alano 0.
St. Benilde (64) — Grey 13, Tolentino 10, Romero 10, Taha 7, Bartolo 6, Lastimosa 5, Sinco 4, Altamirano 3, Ongteco 2, Garcia 2, Carlos 2, Maconocido 0, Deles 0.
Quarterscores: 17-18, 29-32, 57-39, 84-64.
source: interaksyon.com
