Again, the answer is very simple, read it again, slowly
Do you, or do you not, accept this? Yes or No
It is very simple, we have God Himself saying:
"Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Then there is St. Thomas saying:
"And such a man can obtain salvation without being actually baptized, on account of his desire for Baptism."
No brainer. For as great as St. Thomas is, he is not God - even he realized that he in fact could be wrong about this, as he is quoted as saying: "Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views.
If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world."