SAN BEDA made sure Jose Rizal University’s early advantage from their abandoned meeting did not carry over, pulling away late for a 65-62 victory over the Heavy Bombers in the NCAA Season 102 on Saturday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Aldous Torculas carried the scoring load for the Red Lions with a season-high 29 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one block, but the transferee out of University of the Philippines deflected the credit to his coaching staff for making sure they came into the game prepared.
“Siguro sa preparation din namin sa kanila and Coach Yuri helped us to read talaga and to create an open shots for our teammates,” Torculas said.
READ: Letran's cutthroat pace ignites red-hot start to NCAA Season 102
The two teams were originally scheduled to clash on September 18, with JRU leading 9-3 with 5:25 left in the first quarter before unplayable conditions forced the game to be halted.
The matchup was eventually reset, wiping the slate clean and setting up an entirely new battle between the Red Lions and Heavy Bombers.
And it was every bit as tight, with neither team able to create separation as they entered the fourth quarter locked at 49-all before rookie Andrei Ugaddan buried two crucial triples to give San Beda the much-needed lift.
Torculas then calmly sank his free throws to help the Red Lions have a three-point lead.
The Heavy Bombers had a shot to send the game to overtime but Sean Salvador's last ditch attempt went in and out as the Red Lions improved to 2-1, tying the Heavy Bombers who absorbed their first loss of the season.
“I have to give it to them. We were down five, down two minutes, they never quit. And what I told them at the start of the ballgame is just, we just have to stick to our identity,” head coach Yuri Escueta stressed.
“And they did. So hats off to them for being able to execute,” he added.
Ugaddan, who was fielded for defensive purposes before his late-game heroics, finished with 11 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Daniel Marcelo and Zed Etulla added five points each.
Meanwhile Chris Hubilla led the scoring for JRU with 14 points, three rebounds, and one assist while Jamhir Eligado and Salvador scored 13 and 11 respectively.
It wasn’t a good afternoon either for Lawrence Mangubat, who went empty from downtown while finishing with 10 points.
THE SCORES:
SAN BEDA 65 - Torculas 29, Ugaddan 11, Marcelo 5, Etulla 5, Estacio 4, Hawkins 4, Puno 3, Reyes 2, Jamora 2, Bonzalida 0, Songcuya 0, Calimag 0.
JRU 62 - Hubilla 14, Eligado 13, Salvador 11, Mangubat 10, Garcia 6, Laurenaria 3, Garupil 3, Palis 2, Masiglat 0, Agemenyi 0, Duque 0, Bagro 0.
QUARTERS: 14-19, 34-33, 49-49, 65-62.
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