JOSE Rizal University averted a huge collapse after denying Arellano University’s fiery comeback, taking a 92-89 victory to return to the win column of the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament last Wednesday.
Joshua Guiab scored 15 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including five straight which gave the Heavy Bombers a sizable 89-78 lead with 53.7 seconds remaining in the game.
But just when the JRU faithful inside the rocking Filoil Ecooil Center in San Juan thought they were out of the woods already, the Chiefs delivered one last stand behind T-Mc Ongotan who scored six in their sizzling 11-2 run to trim the deficit to just two, 91-82.
A split for MJ Raymundo opened the door for the Chiefs to complete probably the craziest comeback this season, but Ernesto Geronimo missed his tightly contested attempt to tie the game as lady luck in the end-game finally smiled on the Heavy Bombers, who improved to 2-4.
“It’s expected. Knowing yung brand ng game ng Arellano it doesn’t matter if they’re winning or if they’re down, talagang they’re gonna keep on pushing,” JRU coach Louie Gonzales said.
“Buti nalang naging maganda ang separation [until] the last 50 seconds ng laro, we’re still up by eight or ten points, so thank God we’re able to survive that one.”
Raymundo led the way for the Heavy Bombers with 21 points, 18 of which coming in a big first half where they traded blows with the revitalized Chiefs.
Shawn Argente scored eight points in the fourth quarter for JRU to finish with 20 while Mart Barrera added 14 to make up for the early exits of Jonathan Medina and Justin Lozano who were both injured in the first.
Ongotan paced the Chiefs with 20 points, six assists and five rebounds while Lorenz Capulong and Troy Valencia added 15 apiece.
Those big numbers didn’t do much for the Chiefs, though, as they failed to follow up on their breakthrough win against San Sebastian last Sunday to remain at the bottom of the standings with a 1-5 record.
The scores:
JRU 92 - Raymundo 21, Argente 20, Guiab 18, Barrera 14, Medina 5, Panapanaan 4, Pangilinan 3, Benitez 2, Mosqueda 2, Lozano 2, Sarmiento 1, Ferrer 0, De Leon 0, Samontanes 0
ARELLANO 89 - Ongotan 20, Capulong 15, Valencia 15, Vinoya 10, Camay 9, Abiera 8, Hernal 6, Borromeo 2, Geronimo 2, Libang 2, Estacio 0, Espiritu 0, Miller 0, Rosalin 0
Quarters: 27-23, 49-48, 63-63, 92-89
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