Bombers, Cardinals turn back ‘NC’ rivals

JOSE Rizal U’S Abdul Wahab (left) thwarts an attempt by EAC’s Jan Jamon during yesterday’s game at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

HE JOSE Rizal U Heavy Bombers left little to chance this time.

Unrelenting right from the start, the Bombers crushed the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 73-54, yesterday to gain a share of third spot in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Michael Mabulac proved to be a pillar of strength for JRU, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Bombers forged a three-way tie at No. 3 with St. Benilde and Perpetual Help at 7-1 (win-loss).

Later, Mapua completed a season sweep of San Sebastian with a thrilling 75-73 triumph.

Leo Gabo topscored with 14 points, but it was Andrew Estrella who nailed the biggest basket—a floater with 23 seconds remaining—as the Cardinals scored only their second win of the season. The Cardinals also stunned the Stags, 89-81, in their first round meeting last month in a game Mapua controlled all throughout.

Mapua needed a strong second half performance this time to overcome San Sebastian’s double-digit advantage at the half.

Gabo got going in the third period, before Exequiel Biteng, CJ Isit, Joseph Eriobu and finally, Estrella knocked in crucial shots down the stretch to keep the Stags at bay.

Biteng buried back-to-back treys to push the lead to five points heading into the final three minutes. An Eriobu short stab broke a 71-all deadlock with 1:21 remaining.

Jamil Ortuoste tied the game at 73 with a layup with 35 seconds remaining, but he missed the free throw that could have completed a three-point play, setting Estrella up for the biggest shot of the game.

CJ Perez scattered 26 points, but his performance failed to stop the Stags’ alarming slide, which has now reached eight games.

The Bombers quickly erased the stigma of their 77-84 overtime loss to the Letran Knights as they zoomed to a double-digit lead in the first period and never looked back against an EAC squad that missed Cameroonian center Noube Happi for the second straight game due to a recurring back injury.

“I saw their intensity the past two days and how bad they wanted to bounce back from the loss to Letran,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses in Filipino. “We had a good start and we sustained it until the final buzzer and that was important because we tend to relax just like in the loss to Letran.”

Jaycee Asuncion had 14 points, built on 3-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, while Philip Paniamogan, one of the more notable players not picked in the 2014 PBA Draft, tallied 12 points.

The scores:

First Game

JRU 73—Mabulac 18, Asuncion 14, Paniamogan 12, Lasquety 10, Abdul Wahab 9, Benavides 9, Salaveria 1, Astilla 0, Sanchez 0, Muñez 0, Grospe 0, Teodoro 0.

EAC 54—Serrano 16, Jamon 16, Onwubere 9, Tayongtong 7, Saludo 4, Arquero 2, Aguilar 0, Santos 0, Mejos 0, General 0, Quilanita 0.

Quarters: 24-7, 41-23, 59-45, 73-54

Second Game

MAPUA 75—Gabo 14, Estrella 14, Isit 12, Eriobu 12, Biteng 8, Cantos 7, Saitanan 4, Canaynay 2, Villasenor 2.

SAN SEBASTIAN 73—Perez 26, Dela cruz 16, Guinto 12, Ortuoste 11, Camasura 3, Yong 3, Calisaan 2, Balucanag 0, Fabian 0, Costelo 0, Aquino 0, Mercado 0.

Quarters: 18-23, 32-42, 53-57, 75-73