INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - John Wilson sustained his fiery form to steal the show from the diminutive Leonard Anquillo and power Jose Rizal U past Arellano, 88-82, yesterday in the most enthralling game of the 85th NCAA men’s basketball season so far at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Flaunting an array of moves and a keen sense of timing, the swingman from Binangonan, Rizal, knocked in a personal season-best of 26 points that went with his nine rebounds and seven assists as the Heavy Bombers posted their fourth straight victory and grabbed the solo lead from idle San Sebastian.

“Wilson saved us again,” said JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia of the 6-foot-2 forward who went 10-for-10 from the free throw line. “He energized us when we struggled early.”

Later, Perpetual Help weathered Angeles University Foundation’s late surge for a 94-84 victory.

Rookie guard Chrisper Elopre finished with a game-high 27 points as the Altas rode a hot start to secure their first victory of the season after losing their first three games.

“We never felt unmotivated because we lost to stronger teams in our first three games,” said Perpetual Help rookie coach Boris Aldeguer after the Altas moved up to a three-team tie at sixth place with AUF and Mapua.

“We knew in our hearts we can still come back and we know we are still in the thick of things.”

The Heavy Bombers spoiled the breakout game of Anquillo, who at 5-foot-1, is the league’s smallest player.

Sidelined by flu in the first two games and scoreless in the loss to San Beda, the fleet-footed Anquillo had the Arellano gallery roaring after scoring the game’s first basket and finishing with 18 points, including eight straight in the third period that gave the Chiefs a 59-54 lead.

But he could do little to stop the JRU onslaught as the Chiefs faded in the stretch and fell to a three-way tie with St. Benilde and Letran at 2-2.

For a while though, the Chiefs could do nothing wrong.

Anquillo scored on a reverse lay-up after eluding three defenders and Jerry Miranda banked in an off-balanced triple to beat the buzzer in the second quarter.

The Chiefs turned a 21-14 deficit to a 36-29 advantage behind Andrian Celada, who scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half. Celada also had five steals.

“Arellano played a marvelous game and proved they belong in this league,” said Vanguardia.

The senior scores:

First Game

JRU 88—Wilson 26, Sena 17, Hayes 16, Cagoco 11, Bulangis 7, Njei 4, Agas 3, Montemayor 2, Kabigting 2, Salazar 0, Matute 0, Apinan 0.

ARELLANO 82—Celada 19, Anquillo 18, Rivera 11, G. Ciriacruz 11, Miranda 9, I. Ciriacruz 6, Reducto 4, Virtudazo 2, Apostol 2, Tayongtong 0, Dimla 0, Agustin 0.

Quarters: 20-14, 39-43, 66-62, 88-82

Second Game

PERPETUAL HELP 94—Elopre 27, Roño 16, Vivero 15, Salanga 12, Galabin 9, Carrullo 5, Ynion 4, Sicat 3, Liaz 2, Salvado 1, Hainga 0.

AUF 84—Manarang 18, Fuertez 18, Fuertez 13, Carney 11, Gigante 10, Gomez 7, Nacu 4, Musni 3, Henson 0, Dumlao 0, Cayanan 0, Maniago 0.

Quarters: 22-13, 44-29, 63-49, 94-84