MANILA, Philippines — An underachieving Jose Rizal University arrested a four-game slide as it charged past Arellano University, 79-69, Monday in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Veteran forward Jeckster Apinan was the pointman of JRU’s only fourth victory of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Raycon Kabigting and rookie guard John Villiarias doled out 13 points a piece.
With the top four teams in the standings slowly creating separation from the rest of the league, the victory breathed some life to the Heavy Bombers final four bid — only if they play flawlessly in the remaining matches of the eliminations.
JRU, which improved to seventh spot but also in danger of missing the bus for the first time in five years, blitzed away in the third quarter after leading by just a hair at halftime.
Andrian Celada’s 19 point-effort was put to waste as the Chiefs absorbed their 10th setback and slide to half a game behind the Heavy Bombers in the standings.
PBA draftee Jerald Lapuz also scored 12 points and plucked six boards in a losing cause.