Photo by EJ Amador
MANILA—Nate Matute drilled three straight triples in a key stretch as Jose Rizal University downed Lyceum, 74-68, to tie for fifth place in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Monday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Heavy Bombers snapped a three-game skid while foiling the Pirates’ bid to end their first-round campaign with a stronger hold of the fourth spot.
Matute fired the clutch treys to lift JRU to a 67-62 lead and finish with a game-high 23 points along with six rebounds and three steals.
“We’ve been losing in the endgame, but now we finished strong,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses. “Matute carried us in the game, he really stepped up.”
Mapua also survived a tight endgame battle, surviving Perpetual Help’s comeback in the final two minutes for a 65-63 triumph in the second game
“We’ll take it, a win is a win,” said coach Chito Victolero after his Cardinals wrapped up their first-round campaign with a 3-6 record.
Allan Mangahas and Jonathan Banal teamed up for 13 of the Cardinals’ 17 points in a fourth-quarter run for a 64-55 Mapua lead going into the final two minutes after a tie at 47.
But Harold Arboleda and Jet Vidal pushed Perpetual within a basket, 65-63, and the Altas even had a shot at winning the game with 2.4 ticks left after the Cardinals turned the ball over on a 24-second violation.
Vidal, however, missed a potential game-winning trey at the buzzer, leaving the Altas with their seventh loss in eight outings.
Josan Nimes paced the Cardinals with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists and Allan Mangahas also delivered with 11 markers, 11 boards and four assists.
“Five of our four losses came in the fourth quarter, but the team is starting to learn,” said Victolero. “There are still lapses, but we had better ball movement.”
Double victory was the order of the day as the Light Bombers dumped the Junior Pirates, 123-41, while the Red Robins routed the Altalettes, 107-88.
The scores:
First Game
JRU 74—Matute 23, Apinan 13, Almario 7, Montemayor 6, Kabigting 6, Villarias 4, Carampil 4, Dela Paz 3, Lopez 3, Paniamogan 2, Mendoza 2, Monserat 1.
LYCEUM 68—Guevarra 21, Cayabyab 21, Ko 8, Santos 7, Napiza 5, Azores 3, Zamora 2, Laude 1, Mallari 0, Lesmoras 0, Lacap 0.
Quarters: 17-15, 35-36, 58-53, 74-68
Second Game
MAPUA 65—Nimes 21, Mangahas 11, Ranises 9, Banal 9, Taha 6, Parala 4, Ighalo 3, Chien 2, Cantos 0, Stevens 0, Sarangay 0.
PERPETUAL 63—Arboleda 17, Vidal 12, Alano 9, Elopre 7, Thompson 6, Paulino 6, Allen 4, Sumera 1, Sison 1, Auncion 0.
Quarters: 17-21, 35-36, 45-47, 65-63