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JOSE
Rizal University (JRU) came up with the big plays down
the stretch to repulse College of Saint Benilde (CSB),
75-67, and finally barge into the win column after three
attempts in the 84th National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament yesterday
at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The
Heavy Bombers started out slow, but outscored the
suddenly skidding Blazers, 22-14, in the final quarter
to notch their first victory after back-to-back losses
to the Letran Knights (83-69) and San Sebastian College-Recoletos
(SSC-R) Stags (57-54).
“I hope
this would be the start of something big for us,” said
winning coach Ariel Vanguardia.
“We made
some adjustments in our defense, which we had numerous
lapses that doomed us in the previous games. Good thing
it worked out well. But we’ll still try to further
improve it,” he added.
JRU
trailed CSB for majority of the first half before
working its way up and stealing the driver’s seat for
good early in the payoff period.
After
the Blazers closed in at 59-62 on a three-pointer by
Aaron Umlas, John Wilson answered with a trey and
veteran JR Sena completed a three-point play, allowing
the Bombers to take a comfortable 68-59 lead with 6:02
in the fourth quarter.
Benilde
threatened again at 63-68, but JRU quashed the Blazers’
comeback with a split free throw by Wilson and Sena’s
lay-up that gave the Bombers a 71-63 advantage with 1:40
left.
It was
the second-straight setback for the Gee Abanilla-mentored
Blazers after a blazing 2-0 start.
Sena
finished with 21 points, while Marc Cagoco contributed
20 points and three steals for the Heavy Bombers, who
will take a nine-day break before resuming their
campaign against University of Perpetual Help Dalta
System (UPHDS) Altas on July 16.
Jeff
Morial paced Benilde with 17 points and Archie David had
12 points and five rebounds for Benilde, who next faces
season host Mapua Tech on Friday.
In the
juniors division, Keith Agovida exploded for 37 points
and 15 rebounds as the JRU Light Bombers walloped the
CSB-La Salle Greenhills Greenies, 105-80.
Mapua
relied on Mark Sarangay to beat Philippine Christian
University, 77-71, in Monday’s other game. Sarangay had
13 points, six rebounds and one steal for the Cardinals
who improved to a 2-1 won-lost record.
Reigning
Most Valuable Player Kelvin de la Peña finally got out
of his measly nine-point average in the first two games
with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two
steals for the Cardinals. Veteran Neil Pascual and Allan
Mangahas combined for 21 points, 10 rebounds and six
assists, also for Mapua.
Beau
Belga and Leimar Navarro had 15 points each for the
Dolphins, who are winless in two games.
The
Cardinals protected a 72-61 lead with less than four
minutes left in the fourth quarter when the Dolphins
rallied to make it 72-67. Belga capped the rally with a
three-point play with a minute to play.
“We had
a lucky break dahil nag-foul trouble ang PCU. We
capitalized on that, especially in the stretch. The boys
kept their composure,” said Mapua coach Leo Isaac |
