LAWRENCE Mangubat spent much of Tuesday searching for his shot. When Jose Rizal University needed him most, though, the Heavy Bomber ace finally found it.
Despite a sluggish start, Mangubat came alive in the clutch to help JRU erase a 14-point deficit and stun Arellano, 64-62, in a dramatic NCAA Season 102 comeback.
The showdown between two of the league’s top guards began with both Mangubat and Arellano’s T-Mc Ongotan struggling to find their footing.
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Ongotan eventually settled in sooner, helping the Chiefs build a sizeable cushion and finished with 23 points and nine boards, while Mangubat endured a frustrating shooting night for much of the way.
But the Heavy Bombers kept chipping away, trimming the deficit to four entering the final frame before Mangubat finally delivered when it mattered most.
"Sabi ko sa kanila, kahit gaano kaganda 'yung depensa nila, kaya nga kayo nandito kasi magagaling na eh. Kung hindi nila naririnig 'yung good defense but better offense, dito papasok 'yun so dapat mas gustuhin nila," said JRU head coach Nani Epondulan.
His clutch triple with roughly three minutes left pulled JRU level at 57-all, before Chris Hubilla’s free throw moments later put the Heavy Bombers ahead.
Then, in the final minute, Sean Salvador pounced on a costly Ernest Geronimo turnover and calmly sank two free throws to put JRU ahead, 61-60, with 14.5 seconds left.
The Heavy Bombers held on from there, completing a comeback that once looked out of reach. Mangubat finished just 5-of-23 from the field, but his 14 points proved enough to give JRU the lift it needed down the stretch.
Basti Valencia still had a chance to steal it for the Chiefs, but his three-point attempt missed the mark. Renzo Abiera’s late tip-in appeared to send the game to overtime, only for the ball to leave his hand a few tenths of a second too late.
The Scores:
JRU 64 - Mangubat 14, Hubilla 14, Garcia 7, Eligado 6, Salvador 6, Panapanaan 5, Penaverde 4, Palis 3, Garupil 2, Laurenaria 2, Duque 1, Herrera 0
AU 62 - Ongotan 23, Valencia 9, Vinoya 6, Hernal 6, Flores 6, Borromeo 5, Buenaventura 2, Abiera 2, Langit 2, Geronimo 1, Camay 0, Cabotaje 0
Quarters: 14-18, 31-42, 49-53, 64-62.
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