JOSE Rizal University banked on the clutch shooting of Philip Paniamogan as it turned back Letran, 69-60, on Monday in an NCAA men’s basketball tournament game marred by a commotion after the final buzzer at The Arena in San Juan.
Paniamogan waxed hot after going cold in the first half as he fired 14 points in the final frame, including 11 in the last three minutes. The Heavy Bombers held off the Knights to improve their win-loss record to an even 2-2 card, while dealing their victims their third loss in four games.
“Nag-pasensya lang ako hangga’t nakuha ko na yung rhythm ko,” said Paniamogan, finished with a game-high 22 points—all but one scored in the second half.
But the highly physical match turned chippy in the waning seconds when Knights coach Caloy Garcia vehemently disagreed on a non-call by referee Ian Borbe on guard Mark Cruz that saw the mentor get ejected with his second technical foul.
Cruz confronted Borbe over the non-call after the final buzzer, before a Letran fan from the stands threw a foreign object at the official. Borbe allegedly countered by flashing his middle finger.
Knights forward Kevin Racal was also called for a technical foul in the endgame for “disrespecting” game officials.
Racal kept the Knights in the game by scoring two successive triples that allowed his squad to regain control at 56-54, before the Bombers grabbed the lead for good thanks to Paniamogan, who scored all but four of his team’s last 15 points.
Jaycee Asuncion also put up a fine all-around performance with 10 points, six assists, and five boards, while John Gropse delivered off the bench with 10 points, two boards, and two blocks in 24 minutes.
The scores:
JRU 69 – Paniamogan 22, Grospe 10, Teodoro 10, Asuncion 10, Sanchez 4, Salaveria 4, Mabulac 4, Abdul Wahab 3, Lasquety 2, Benavides 0.
CSJL 60 – Cruz 19, Racal 17, Ruaya 9, Nambatac 6, Singontiko 5, Quinto 2, Publico 2, Castro 0, Tambeling 0, Luib 0, Gabawan 0.
Quarterscores: 14-14; 31-24; 45-48; 69-60.
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