GAME MONDAY (Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m.—JRU vs. San Beda

MANILA, Philippines—Jose Rizal U drew inspiration from a legend of the Bombers’ fabled basketball history to get the job done against a team known for its resiliency.

The Bombers produced a mix of suffocating defense and a varied offense to upend the San Beda Red Lions, 62-60, on Friday and level their best-of-three NCAA men’s basketball finals series at one game each at the capacity-filled Araneta Coliseum.

San Beda got the head-start in the short footrace to the title with a 72-68 triumph Wednesday.

Game 3 is set Monday at the Araneta Coliseum with two possible outcomes: Jose Rizal ending a 36-year wait for a title or San Beda posting the first “three-peat” in 12 years.

Graduating Bombers senior Jayson Nocom lived to play another game after a stellar performance of 16 points and 7 rebounds, including a drive off a pass from James Sena with 41.8 seconds left gave the JRU breathing space, 62-58, after the Lions had come within two points from 58-52 down.

San Beda, a team with a penchant of coming from behind to snatch victories, responded with a pair of foul shots from Pong Escobal with 36 ticks remaining.

The Bombers failed to score on the next play, but Sena swatted away Ogie Menor’s attempt on the fast-break with 7 seconds left.

With possession still with the Lions, coach Frankie Lim drew up the final play for Escobal but the San Beda skipper, left wide open after Nchotu Njei slipped, flubbed his triple.

“This is the hand of God,” said Bombers coach Ariel Vanguardia, who offered the win to former boss, Joel Banal. “Our best defender slipped and their best shooter was wide open. I thank Him for this victory. I offer the win to coach Joel. We were together at Talk ‘N Text in the PBA when (team manager) Frankie Lim kicked us out.”

“We played good defense. I have always said that if we hold San Beda within 60 points, we have a great chance,” he added.

Vanguardia believes the pre-game pep talk from JRU legend Philip Cezar “fired up” the Bombers.

Sena completed a three-point play of Ekwe’s last foul with 3:57 remaining. The call prompted Lim to contest the call. Lim was slapped a technical and the Bombers were given two free throws, which John Wilson both converted for a 58-52 cushion.

“Put it this way, I didn’t like the way they played,” said Lim, whose Lions trailed by as much as 12 points late in the third quarter.

“I thought it was a lousy foul on Ekwe. How can you call a foul when both of your hands are up.”

The scores:

JRU 62—Nocom 16, Wilson 13, Sena 11, Bulangis 7, Cagoco 4, Hayes 4, Njei 4, Pradas 3, Lopez 0.
SAN BEDA 60—Escobal 16, Ekwe 15, Menor 9, Taganas 5, Hermida 4, Marcelo 4, Tirona 3, Gamalinda 2, Pascual 2.

Quarters: 19-14, 30-28, 45-44, 62-60