Arboleda explodes for 28 as Altas pummel Chiefs

Games Wednesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

12 p.m. – St. Benilde vs San Sebastian (jrs/srs)

4 p.m. – EAC vs Letran (srs/jrs)

MANILA, Philippines – Perpetual Help gave Arellano U a dose of its own medicine as it outran and outgunned the latter in a 101-86 victory to stay at third spot in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Monday.

Harold Arboleda, Juneric Baloria and Justine Alano took turns in the delivering the decisive blows while Earl Scottie Thompson posted his second triple-double effort of the season as the Altas nailed their eighth win against four losses, or just one game behind the Chiefs, who fell to 9-3 (win-loss).

Arboleda erupted a game-high 28 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter that quashed Arellano U's late fightback, while Juneric Baloria sizzled for 26 points, 14 of which came in the third period when Perpetual Help built an 84-69 cushion approaching the final canto.

Alano joined the scoring parade by scattering 18 points himself.

Thompson, a 21-year-old native of Digos, Davao del Sur, got the rest of the dirty job done as he finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, his second triple-double of the year after dropping 15 points, 13 boards and 12 dimes on Emilio Aguinaldo on July 11.

So impressed was Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario with Arboleda, Baloria and Thompson that he compared the three to Dennis Espino, Henry Ong and Bal David, who gave the 75-year-old coach and the Santo Tomas Tigers four UAAP championships in the early 90s.

"They remind me of Bal David, Henry Ong and Dennis Espino when we won UAAP championships in the 90s," said Del Rosario in Filipino.

Perpetual Help thus avenged its 85-97 loss to the latter last July 26.

Taking away Arellano U's rhythm was key.

"Our plan is to quicken the pace when they're slowing it down and slow it down when they're running," said Del Rosario.

Perpetual Help's total output tied the season record of most points in a game by Arellano U, which edged San Sebastian, 101-98, on Aug. 20.

The Altas made their move in the third quarter as Baloria went on attack mode to turn a 49-44 lead at the break to an 84-69 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Just as when the Las Pinas-based school was ready to bury Arellano U deeper, some of the lights went out of the venue due to electrical fluctuations caused by the sudden rain deluge with 9.08 remaining in the game.

When play resumed about half an hour later, the Chiefs were able to regroup and managed to close the gap a bit as the Altas' once proud lead was sliced to a single-digit.

And then Arboleda entered the fray, pouring most of his career-high scoring effort in the period to douse cold water to Arellano U's searing rally with his clutch shooting.

Earlier, the Junior Chiefs trounced the Junior Altas, 92-85, to remain in the Final Four hunt.

The scores:

Perpetual Help 101 – Arboleda 28, Baloria 26, Alano 18, Thompson 11, Dizon 6, Gallardo 6, Jolangcob 4, Ylagan 2, Sadiwa 0, Dagangon 0

Arellano U 86 –  Pinto 17, Agovida 15, Jalalon 11, Hernandez 10, Enriquez 8, Gumaru 6, Caperal 5, Holts 5, Salcedo 3, Ciriacruz 2, Palma 2, Ortega 2, Nicholls 0, Bangga 0

Quarterscores: 23-22; 49-44; 84-69; 101-86