JRU guard Paolo Pontejos
Four quarters weren’t enough to decide the winner between Jose Rizal University and Arellano University.
The Heavy Bombers needed two extra periods to pull off a dramatic yet controversial 114-112 win over the Chiefs on Thursday in the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena.
Gio Lasquety was the Heavy Bombers’ unlikely hero sinking two free-throws with 1.2 seconds left in the second overtime to tie the Chiefs in fourth place with identical 6-4 records.
It was one of the most thrilling games of the season but the ending wasn’t as spectacular as the events in leading up to it.
The game officials made a big blunder when they failed to downgrade JRU guard Tey Teodoro’s jumper to a two-pointer sooner that decided the outcome.
It wasn’t until Lasquety was about to shoot the game-winning free throws that the referees rightfully shaved a point off the Bombers with Teodoro’s foot clearly below the 3-point line upon review.
Had the referees were able to downgrade Teodoro’s jumper earlier, the game would’ve been tied at 112 and Arellano wouldn’t have resorted to fouling.
Despite another close win, Heavy Bombers head coach Vergel Meneses said his team is still a work in progress with defensive lapses plaguing them in the extra periods.
“As of now, I’d rate them at seven out of 10. We had lapses like our defense on (Zach) Nicholls when he shot those threes,” Meneses said.
JRU had an 87-83 lead with 1:35 left in regulation before Jalalon took over. He scored on a drive at the 35.4 mark before sinking a couple of free throws that tied it at 87 with 13.1 ticks left and forced the first OT.
Paolo Pontejos led JRU with 32 points, eight assists, and two steals while Abdoul Potouochi had 21 points and 17 boards before fouling out just before overtime.
Jalalon had a marvelous line of 36 points, 16 assists, and seven rebounds in a losing effort for the Chiefs. Dion Holts added 21 points and seven boards for Arellano.
Arellano wasted little time and immediately put the game under protest.
JRU guard Paolo Pontejos