UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help workhorse Harold Arboleda once again rued the lack of contribution from the team’s role players that factored in the Altas’ 73-77 loss to College of St. Benilde in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday.
Arboleda and the rest of the Altas’ fearsome foursome of Juneric Baloria, Earl Thompson, and Justine Alano, delivered as usual, but they failed to gain significant help from their teammates.
Support was so scarce that Arboleda was forced to play the whole 40 minutes.
“Wala kaming suporta. Ayaw mag-step ng iba,” said an exhausted Arboleda, who registered 12 points, eight boards, five assists, and a steal.
Baloria continued to show why he is the league’s top scorer, scattering a game-high 22 points on top of seven rebounds, two assists, and a block.
Thompson sustained his all-around play with 20 points, 15 boards, four assists, and one steal against seven turnovers, while Alano was not to be outdone with 11 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, and two assists.
But the four standouts, who scored all but eight of the Altas’ total output, failed to gain sufficient help as they squandered an early lead.
“Maganda yung simula namin lagi, pero bumibigay kami sa dulo dahil napapagod kami,” said Baloria, who only had five minutes of rest.
Ironically, it’s Baloria who feels he has to work more.
“Kailangan namin mag-extra work pa para hindi kami mawalan ng hangin sa dulo.”
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