Bombers trample Lions
Ola Adeogun of San Beda tries to get away from Abdul Wahab and Michael Mabulac of JRU. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
SCORELESS in the last game, Jaycee Asuncion picked the right time to explode for Jose Rizal U.
Asuncion waxed hot in the second half to lift the Heavy Bombers past the San Beda Red Lions, 74-65, yesterday and prop up their Final Four bid in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
“We knew this game was important, if we want to make the Final Four,” said Asuncion, who finished with 19 points, including 12 in the second half. “We all wanted to move forward and forget about our last game.”
Asuncion played just four minutes in the 69-71 loss to the St. Benilde Blazers last Wednesday.
Despite the loss, the Red Lions remained on top with a 13-4 record. They will still bag a twice-to-beat edge if St. Benilde loses to Perpetual Help on Wednesday. The Lions can clinch top spot with a win over the Arellano Chiefs on Saturday.
It marked the first time since 2009 that San Beda lost two straight games since it got swept by San Sebastian in the Season 85 finals.
The Heavy Bombers played with ferocity on both ends of the floor to notch their 10th win in 16 games and tie the Perpetual Help Altas at fourth spot.
Asuncion, a 6-foot guard, turned out to be the surprise package for coach Vergel Meneses against the Lions with his outside shots proving to be the telling blows in the Bombers’ mighty finishing kick.
“It’s good that he stepped up and didn’t take my decisions [in last game] personally,” said Meneses of Asuncio, who added six rebounds and two steals.
Tey Teodoro also delivered for the Bombers, scoring 15 points, while JRU’s Ghanaian center Abdul Abdulwahab held his own against San Beda counterpart Ola Adeogun with 10 points and 13 boards.
With Asuncion and Teodoro combining for 10 points, the Bombers outscored the Lions, 17-3, in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to erect a 68-50 advantage on Michael Mabulac’s two foul shots.
Adeogun was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Abdulwahab with 4:32 remaining and JRU enjoying a 17-point buffer.
The scores:
JRU 74—Asuncion 19, Teodoro 15, Paniamogan 11, Abdulwahab 10, Mabulac 9, Benavides 5, Lasquety 3, Sanchez 2, Salaveria 0, Grospe 0.
SAN BEDA 65—Adeogun 18, Koga 9, Mendoza 9, Dela Cruz 8, Amer 6, Sara 5, Pascual 4, Tongco 4, Cabanag 2, A. Semerad 0, D. Semerad 0.
Quarters: 16-15, 33-26, 51-47, 74-65
