Jalalon had a quiet 18 points for the Chiefs in their third straight win. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Arellano’s top guns efficiently delivered as the Chiefs easily trounced Lyceum, 97-83, to claim solo third with a 9-4 record in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Arena.
Jiovani Jalalon topscored with 18 points and Dioncee Holts added 16 points for the Chiefs, who erected an early 20-9 lead and kept a double-digit distance from the Pirates the rest of the way.
Mapua, meanwhile, showed end-game composure this time as the Cardinals slipped past the Jose Rizal U Bombers, 68-67, to gain solo fifth at 7-5.
Mark Brana completed a three-point play with 5.9 seconds left to seal the victory for the Cardinals, who avenged their heartbreaking loss to the Bombers in the first round.
“It was a lucky shot,” said Mapua coach Atoy Co of the crucial basket which Brana converted after grabbing the ball off an airball three-point attempt by teammate CJ Isit.
Brana then nailed the deciding free throw off a foul from JRU guard Paolo Pontejos.
Allwell Oraeme, the MVP race leader, paced the Cardinals with another huge double-double of 19 points and 27 rebounds.
The Bombers, who fell to sixth place at 6-6, still had a shot at stealing the game but Ervin Grospe missed on a jumper in the dying seconds.
In the first round, the Bombers incredibly rallied from 18 points down in the last three minutes to stun the Cardinals, 90-87, behind the hot-shooting Tey Teodoro.
And the Bombers looked poised for another comeback win behind Teodoro, who fired 16 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter that helped turn a 40-49 deficit into a 62-59 edge.
Although the Cardinals denied Teodoro any more touches in the last three minutes, the Bombers took the lead for the last time, 67-65, after a Grospe basket with 32.1 ticks left.
Brana and Exequiel Biteng added 12 points each for the Cardinals.
The Pirates, who continued to struggle without key cog Joseph Gabayni, skidded to their 10th loss in 13 games.
The scores:
First Game
MAPUA 68—Oraeme 19, Biteng 12, Brana 12, Isit 6, Nimes 6, Nieles 5, Menina 4, Serrano 2, Layug 2, Que 0, Aguirre 0.
JRU 67—Pontejos 21, Teodoro 18, Grospe 8, Sanchez 6, Abdul Wahab 4, Dela Paz 4, Cruz 3, Poutouochi 2, Astilla 1, Lasquety 0, Aurin 0, Dela Virgen 0.
Quarters: 17-13, 29-31, 49-42, 68-67
Second Game
ARELLANO 97—Jalalon 18, Holts 16, Gumaru 14, Ortega 11, Salado 9, Zamora 8, Bangga 6, Cadavis 5, Meca 4, Nicholla 4, Enriquez 2, Capara 0, Ongolo 0, Tano 0.
LYCEUM 83—Baltazar 19, Ayaay 16, Nguidjol 13, Marata 10, Bulawan 8, Lugo 4, Alanes 3, Malabanan 2, Soliman 2, Lacastesantos 2, Mbida 2, Elmerjab 2, Sunga 0.
Quarters: 24-13, 47-32, 75-54, 97-83