JRU outlasts Perpetual in battle for NCAA third seed

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines-Overtime is their time and they would not be denied.

Needing extra five minutes, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers burst out in OT to level the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 82-79, and claim the third seed in the NCAA Final Four at the Arena in San Juan Friday afternoon.

Teytey Teodoro paved the way for the Heavy Bombers as he sent the game into overtime with a driving layup to the hole to put the boards at 73-73 with 21.7 seconds remaining in the fourth.

Teodoro then rode his momentum into the extra frame with another driving layup and a three-pointer from the right wing to put JRU up 78-75.

JRU head coach Vergel Meneses said that he wanted the ball to go to Teodoro as his guard’s confidence was high.

“I wanted the ball to go to Teodoro, I wanted him to go for it,” Meneses said. “His confidence level was so high during the game.”

Michael Mabulac scored on the post for JRU to put them up five points, 80-75, but Altas forward Gabriel Dagangon scored four unanswered points to cut the lead to one, 80-79.

Harold Arboleda then stole an Abdul Abdul-Wahab pass but Dagangon ran out of heroic fuel and botched a reverse layup with 27.3 seconds remaining.

Both teams had a 12-6 record going into the playoff for the third seed.

Meneses used bench players Genesis Manuel, Kristian Antilla in the first half to give them some confidence if their services were needed.

He added that they can’t afford to play complacent basketball.

“We can’t be complacent, we are not as strong as San Beda or Arellano; we are not in that position,” Meneses said.

Teodoro paced JRU with 16 points while Philip Paniamogan had 15 points and five rebounds.

Abdul-Wahab had a decent double-double with 11 points and 11 boards to go along with two blocks.

Justine Alano had an impressive line of 19 points, nine boards and three blocks to pave the way for the Altas.

Arboleda had one impressive double-double with 17 points and 14 boards with Juneric Baloria adding 16 points for the fourth-seed Altas.
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