Arellano holds off SSC; JRU, Mapua score

STEPHEN Que (right) of Mapua gets bottled up by Laminou Hamadou and Sidney Onwubere of EAC in yesterday’s game. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

A HOT-SHOOTING Arellano turned up in the final quarter to down a pesky San Sebastian, 104-92, and keep a share of second place in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Dioncee Holts, Zach Nicholls, Donald Gumaru and Jiovani Jalalon teamed up in a late outburst that included six triples to help the Chiefs pull away from the upset-seeking Stags.

“We knew that San Sebastian will really put up a good fight and they delivered, especially their big men,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera. “But our backcourt players also responded. They doubled their effort.”

Holts topscored with 21 points on top of 12 rebounds and five steals and Jalalon also shone by dishing out a season-high 16 assists to go with eight markers, six boards and three steals.

The Chiefs kept pace with defending champion San Beda and Perpetual Help at 4-1, behind unbeaten Letran’s 5-0 record.

Tey Teodoro also put on a show in the final quarter as Jose Rizal University  blasted Lyceum, 75-60, to pick up their third victory in five outings.

Earlier, Mapua coasted to their second win with a 101-72 drubbing of winless Emilio Aguinaldo College.

The scores:

First Game

MAPUA 101—Nimes 18, Que 17, Serrano 16, Biteng 12Isit 12, Nieles 7, Menina 6, Aguirre 5, Oraeme 4, Villasenor 2, Dela Rosa 2, Layug 0, Raflores 0.

EAC 72—Hamadou 16, Munsayac 15, Onwubere 13, Pascua 11, General 8, Mejos 5, Diego 4, Bonleaon 0, Estacio 0.

Quarters: 15-14, 45-33, 72-54, 101-72

Second Game

JRU 75—Teodoro 25, Pontejos 10, Dela Virgen 9, Poutouochi 6, Astilla 5, Estrella 5, Cruz 4, Dela Paz 3, Lasquety 2, Abdulwahab 2, Balagtas 2, Grospe 2, Sanchez 0.

LYCEUM 60—Gabayni 15, Nguidjol 13, Alanes 10, Mbida 7, Baltazar 4, Lugo 4, Taladua 3, Soliman 2, Ayaay 2, Malabanan 0, Marata 0, Lacastesantos 0, Bulawan 0.

Quarters: 21-10, 37-29, 50-40, 75-60.

Third Game

ARELLANO 104—Holts 21, Nicholls 13, Gumaru 13, Enriquez 13, Salado 13, Zamora 9, Jalalon 8, Ortega 5, Bangga 4, Meca 3, Cadavis 2, Ongolo 0, Tano 0.

SSC 92—Guinto 26, Calisaan 20, Ortuoste 17,Costelo 9, Pretta 9, Fabian 5, Bragais 2, David 2, Mercado 2, Sibal 0, Vera 0, Capobres 0.

Quarters:  23-21, 43-39, 69-66, 104-92