CHRIS Hubilla may not be on the court, but the rest of Jose Rizal U still are.
And with everybody stepping up to the plate making up for their injured forward, the Heavy Bombers had to do what they do best: outwork the opposition.
JRU repulsed a game Lyceum of the Philippines U side with a 81-78 squeaker on Tuesday at Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan to get back to their winning ways this NCAA Season 102.
READ: Chris Hubilla's NCAA S102 in question with partial MCL tear
Lawrence Mangubat, equally hurting with his right shoulder injury, sealed the escape with two freebies in the final 9.2 seconds to finish with 12 points, nine assists, and five rebounds after the Kalentong crew saw their 12-point fourth quarter lead diminish.
The Pirates, ever as resolute, still had a shot to force overtime but Lance Aurigue and Renz Villegas muffed their late attempts from deep.
Sanlea Peñaverde was one of the few who answered the call for JRU dropping a season-best 22 points on a sizzling 6-of-12 shooting from downtown, that also went with five assists, four steals, and three rebounds, while Sean Salvador added 16 points built from three treys on top of four rebounds and two dimes for JRU which improved to an 8-3 card in an ultra-competitive Group A.
But that's just the guards.
The frontcourt players also read the memo and took their game to the next level, one that resulted in JRU winning the battle of the boards, 52 to 41.
Ivan Panapanaan notched a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds, Noel Agemenyi got six points and six boards off the bench, and Allan Laurenaria grabbed 10 rebounds to go with his four points in the win.
As happy as coach Nani Epondulan was to pull this victory off, there's no denying that the Heavy Bombers are giving up a lot with Hubilla in the sidelines to an MCL injury.
"You cannot replace a Chris Hubilla. Iba ang attention na nakukuha niya sa kalaban," he said.
Nonetheless, it's a testament not only to the depth of his wards but also to their desire to keep this flame going.
"Hats off ako kila Panapanaan at Agemenyi dahil talagang tinrabaho nila ito."
LPU saw its three-game win run snapped after this tough defeat to slide to 4-6, still at the bottom of the group to start the second round.
Villegas paced the Pirates with 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, as Jonathan Daileg got 15 points and five boards in the loss.
The Scores:
JRU 81 -- Peñaverde 22, Salvador 16, Mangubat 12, Panapanaan 10, Eligado 6, Agemenyi 6, Laurenaria 4, Herrera 3, Garcia 2, Palis 0, Masiglat 0, Duque 0, Bagro 0.
LPU 78 -- Villegas 20, Daileg 15, Rubico 12, Aurigue 10, Matienzo 9, Guadaña 7, Fuentes 5, Gordon 0, Cardinas 0, Manuel 0, Peñafiel 0, Almario 0, Nocum 0, Caduyac 0, Pallingayan 0.
Quarters: 24-13, 46-42, 63-56, 81-78.
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