NCAA: Baloria, Thompson catch fire as Perpetual Help Altas clobber Mapua Cardinals

Badly needing a bucket, Mapua’s Joseph Eriobu buried a running triple from near half court that appeared to beat the third-quarter buzzer.

After a review of the play, the referees didn’t count it.

That’s how unlucky the Cardinals were as they succumbed to a scary University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Altas squad, 91-57, on Monday in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Juneric Baloria and Earl Thompson combined for 53 points to nearly outscore the entire Mapua team’s total output, as the Altas jumpstarted their campaign and validated their status as one of the top threats to San Beda’s title reign.

It was an ominous sign for the Cardinals, who appear headed to a trying season after losing Josan Nimes and Mark Brana in the offseason.

“Alam ko tatalunin namin Mapua, pero hindi ko in-expect na ganito ka-laki,” Altas coach Aric del Rosario said. - Karlo Sacamos, SPIN


The scores:

UPHSD (91) - Thompson 27, Baloria 26, Jolangcob 8, Arboleda 6, Dizon 6, Sadiwa 5, Bantayan 4, Daganon 4, Tamayo 3, Gallardo 0, Lucente 0, Pido 0.

MIT (57) - Eriobu 16, Estrella 14, Cantos 6, Biteng 5, Isit 5, Saitanan 4, Serrano 3, Gabo 2, Villasenor 2, Galoso 0, Layug 0, Tubioso 0.

Quarterscores: 20-10, 39-26, 65-35, 91-57