SEAN Salvador hit the game-winning three-pointer to spare preseason favorite Jose Rizal University the blushes and into a pulsating 65-64 win over Mapua to kick off its NCAA Season 102 campaign in style, Monday at the Filoil Ecooil Center.
With the defense collapsing on Lawrence Mangubat, the former Mapua Cardinal found Salvador on the corner and the sophomore sharpshooter obliged by hitting the big three over the outstreched arms of Marc Igliane with 2.9 seconds remaining in the ball game.
Lance Nitura had another shot to win the game for the Cardinals, but his last ditch three hit the front rim to close out what was a heated and thrilling clash between the two teams who share plenty of history.
“Actually yung play talaga kay Mangubat talaga yun. Pero yun nga grabe yung double sa kanya, tatlong tao, apat na tao. Good assist din from Mangubat na pinasa niya yun sa corner sa akin. Yun lang tiwala lang talaga ako sa sarili ko,” Salvador said.
The Cardinals looked on their way to a huge upset after rookie Jamal Diaz hit a three-pointer to give his team a five-point lead, 64-59, with 1:15 remaining.
But the Heavy Bombers had other plans.
Jay Garupil scored on a lay-up on the next possession to push JRU back to within a single possession, and while he missed the bonus free throw — Mangubat secured a crucial steal and was fouled on the other end to keep the Heavy Bombers alive.
Mangubat's split on the line should've given Mapua enough buffer to win, especially as Cyrus Nitura headed to the line with his team up two with 18.7 seconds left. However, the older Nitura's nightmares from the line proved to be costly, as he missed what would've been the two insurance foul shots to leave the door open for JRU.
With a live ball, Mapua knew where the ball was going and promptly triple-teamed Mangubat to force the shifty-lefty to give the ball up.
He did so willingly, and Salvador didn't let him down.
“Nakita ko kasi parang may papuntang double sa’kin. Tapos nakita ko si Sean, yun yung sinasabi niya lagi kami nageextra. Yun nakita ko open na open sa corner, pinasa ko hindi na ako naghesitate kasi alam ko tinatrabaho niyo yun,” Mangubat stressed.
Mangubat finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and lone yet very important assist to Salvador.
Salvador on the other hand, scored nine markers, one assist, one rebound, and one steal while Allan Laurenaria also punched in a double-double of 11 points, 12 rebounds, and one steal.
Meanwhile for Mapua, Nitura tallied with 17 points, 11 rebounds, three dimes, one steal, and a block while Cyrus Cuenco added 13 markers, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
The scores
JRU 65 - Mangubat 22, Laurenaria 11, Salvador 9, Palis 5, Eligado 5, Garcia 5, Hubilla 3, Garupil 2, Masiglat 2, Herrera 1, Agmenyi 0, Lozano 0
MAPUA 64 - M. Nitura 17, Cuenco 13, Diaz 9, Concepcion 6, Lazarte 6, L. Nitura 6, Igliane 5, Razon 2, Reyes 0, Ryan III 0, Liwanag 0
Quarters: 14-17, 34-32, 49-45, 65-64
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