JOSE Rizal University got going in the third quarter and never looked back after taking an 84-74 over Emilio Aguinaldo College in their cross-group match in the NCAA Season 102 on Monday at the Filoil Center in San Juan.
Chris Hubilla finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals — dealing most of his damage in the third quarter alongside Jay Garupil and Sean Salvador — conspiring in a 17-3 rally to turn a five point deficit around and take command of the game for good.
The win was the Heavy Bombers' fourth straight as they improved to 6-1 to keep in step with College of St. Benilde atop Group A.
"Credit sa Emilio Aguinaldo College, sa depensa nila. Nahirapan kami nung first half. Nung nangyari kasi nun, we were getting open shots tapos hindi namin nacoconvert," JRU head coach Nani Epondulan said.
"Luckily nung second half with Garupil and Sean Salvador hitting those wide-open three-point shots, nag-open yung floor for Hubilla and (Lawrence) Mangubat."
The Heavy Bombers found themselves on the backfoot in the first half, even trailing by as many as 11 in the first half with Jude Bagay and Wilmar Oftana leading the EAC attack.
But things changed in the second half as the Heavy Bombers started connecting from downtown to open the floor for Hubilla and Lawrence Mangubat and take away the fight from the Generals for good.
Mangubat finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block while Salvador and Garupil added 11 and nine respectively. They combined for three treys apiece in the second half.
Joseph Nunag had 17 points and 10 rebounds while Bagay also finished with 17. Oftana also contributed a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds for now the 1-5 Generals.
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