JOSE Rizal University completed the NCAA Season 101 quarterfinals after outlasting Emilio Aguinaldo College 80-76 in a thrilling Group B play-in encounter, Tuesday at the Playtime Filoil Center in San Juan.
Allan Laurenaria and Justin Lozano made the key plays down the stretch before Harry Herrera hit two pressure-packed free throws to tow these young Heavy Bombers to the quarterfinals.
Waiting for them is Group A winners Perpetual Help this Thursday.
"Ni-remind lang namin yung buong team na wala nang bukas," Lozano said in the post-game interview.
"Parang yun na, all out na namin,kahit na anong mangyari. Basta makuha yung panalo."
Leading by just one, 74-73, with under two minutes left in the game, Launeria stripped EJ Castillo before finding Lozano on the other end to give the Heavy Bombers a three-point lead.
Lozano then returned the favor, stripping Wilmar Oftana before finding Laurenaria who soared high for a lay-up which gave them a 78-73 lead with 44 seconds remaining in the game.
A split from Wilmar Oftana on the next possession and a Brianne Angeles lay-up allowed the Generals to come to within two, 78-76, with seven seconds remaining in the game.
But that's when Herrera stepped up by draining two clutch free throws to put the Generals away for good.
Lozano finished with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal while Jay Garupil added 14 points.
Shawn Argente and Sean Salvador completed the double-digit scorers for JRU, finishing with 12 and 10 respectively, whiel Laurenaria filled the sat sheet with seven points, eight rebounds and four blocks.
Nico Quinal led the way for EAC with 16 points while Castillo added 14 as the Generals miss out on the playoff bus once more.
The scores:
JRU 80 – Lozano 15, Garupil 14, Argente 12, Salvador 10, Laurenaria 7, Panapanaan 6, Duque 6, Benitez 6, Sarmiento 2, Herrera 2, Castillo 0, Peñaverde 0
EAC 76 – Quinal 16, Castillo 14, Oftana 13, Angeles 9, Shanoda 8, Bagay 6, Lucero 5, Loristo 3, Omandac 1, Bacud 1, Ochavo 0, Jacob 0, Postanes 0
Quarters: 18-18, 38-42, 60-58, 80-76
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