IN case there are still any doubts as to its status in the NCAA Season 101, Jose Rizal University just erased all of that on Friday.
Allan Laurenaria scored the game-winning basket with 2.1 seconds remaining in the game to tow the Heavy Bombers to a huge 67-66 upset win over the San Beda Red Lions in Group B action at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Trailing by one after a Janti Miller split from the line, coach Nani Epondulan turned to Laurenaria who isolated Zed Etulle and scored on a driving basket in what would become the game winner after Bryan Sajonja missed a tough jumper on the other end as time expired.
The win tied the Heavy Bombers with the Red Lions and the CSB Blazers atop the so-called 'Group of Death,' toting 2-1 records apiece.
"Lagi namin nire-reiterate sa kanila bawat practice, mas malaki man sila, mas athletic man sila pero dapat yung puso namin mas malaki. Dapat every possession 100 percent," JRU coach Nani Epondulan said
"Sinabi ko lang sa kanila na nagpapayoff na yung ginawa naming preparation this preseason. Since young yung core namin, yung mental toughness yun yung kailangan namin [palakasin] pati yung physicality," he added.
Wild ending
To say that the ending to this game was wild could be a massive understatement.
Sajonia initially put the Red Lions ahead by one, 66-65, after a three-pointer with 1:10 remaining in the game but that was later reviewed and changed to a two-pointer resulting to a tied game with seconds remaining.
The problem for the Heavy Bombers is that they already played the next possessions as if they're down by one, and have already fouled Miller following a Sean Salvador miss thinking that they'll have to stop the clock.
Luckily for them, Miller's second free throw was nullified after the Fil-American stepped on the line - leaving the Heavy Bombers one last possession to steal the win which they promptly did thanks to Laurenaria.
Salvado led the way for the Heavy Bombers with 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting from downtown.
Justin Lozano chipped in 13, while Ivan Panapanaan and Shawn Argente added nine and eight repsectively.
Sajonia led the Red Lions with 16 points who was still missing their team captain in Yukien Andrada for the game. Bismarck Lina added 13 points and eight boards while Miller also chipped in 13 in the loss.
The scores:
JRU 67 – Salvador 15, Lozano 13, Panapanaan 9, Argente 8, Garupil 7, Laurenaria 6, Herrera 5, Sarmiento 3, Castillo 1, Benitez 0, Peñaverde 0, Duque 0
SAN BEDA 66 – Sajonia 16, Miller 13, Lina 13, Etulle 8, Gonzales 6, Reyes 4, Celzo 2, Culdora 2, Puno 2, Estacio 0, Bonzalida 0, Calimag 0, Jalbuena 0, Vailoces 0, Songcuya 0
Quarters: 19-16, 37-33, 55-46, 67-66
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