Sometimes slow is the way to go.

The University of Perpetual Help System Dalta staved off any comeback bids from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde by maintaining a steady but controlled pace in the fourth quarter, nipping fellow Final Four contender, 65-62, Wednesday at the San Juan Arena.

The rain-delayed match resulted in a strong bid by the Altas for a hotly-contested Final Four slot as they garnered their eleventh win in seventeen games.

The Altas win also assured the 13-4 San Beda College one of the two twice-to-beat advantages even if the Mendiola-based squad loses its last elimination round game versus Arellano University.

“There is still hope. It’s in the heart of the veterans not to give up that even if Earl (Thompson) was cramping, he does not want to leave the game,” said an exultant Altas head coach Aric del Rosario.

Thompson was indeed splendid in the game, as the MVP frontrunner exploded for 14 points in the first half as the Altas erected an 11 point lead.

However, his Benildean counterpart Mark Romero cannot be outdone as the pro-bound senior towed the Blazers to a 48-50 deficit in the third quarter with his aggressive drives which resulted in made free throws. Romero topscored for the Blazers with 24 points with five rebounds.

The Blazers upped its tempo in the fourth quarter as Romero and Saavedra sank back-to-back triples to come close at 56-57 midway in the period—a time when the exhausted Thompson was benched.

Del Rosario then sent his prized point guard in, as Thompson and Alano conspired to slow down the game, playing the two-man game anchored on Thompson’s dribble drive.

Alano benefited in his partnership with Thompson, as the undersized center scored six points in the quarter off easy inside stabs for a 63-58 lead.

An acrobatic reverse layup by Thompson upped the Altas lead to seven coming into the last two minutes, but Romero could not give up, converting two free throws off a fouled hard drive.

Grey then stole the ball off Perpetual’s inbound after Romero’s free throws, converting an uncontested layup to come in close at 62-65.

That was the last basket of the match though as Perpetual parked the bus, offensively speaking, as Thompson would melt the clock in their successive possessions.

To ensure the lead, Thompson even gathered two offensive boards from two missed triples by Juneric Baloria to seal the victory for the Altas.

Thompson finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block on top eight-for-17 from the field.

Alano backed him up with 15 points and nine rebounds.

“Scott and I have been playing for five years and we really want to get the championship,” Alano said.

“Hindi lang gusto, gustong gusto naming makuha ang championship (We do not just want it, but we doubly want it to get the championship),” he emphatically added.

The win put the Altas to solo third place at 11-6 while the Blazers are idly tied with Jose Rizal University for the fourth and fifth slot at 10-6.

Box scores:

Perpetual 65 – Thompson 20, Alano 15, Baloria 15, Dagangon 8, Arboleda 5, Lucente 2, Gallardo 0, Oliveria 0, Ylagan 0, Tamayo 0, Jolangcob 0

CSB 62 – Romero 24, Taha 10, Sinco 8, Grey 6, Saavedra 5, Altamirano 3, Ongteco 2, Nayve 2, Pajarillaga 2, Bartolo 0, Jonson 0
Quarter scores: 14-15, 38-27, 52-48, 65-62