NCAA: JRU nips Letran, keeps Final Four bid alive

Paolo Pontejos reacts as JRU deals Letran its second straight loss. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The race for the Final Four continues to heat up.

Jose Rizal University kept itself in the running for the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball tournament playoffs, dealing Letran an 86-80 defeat Friday at San Juan Arena.

Paolo Pontejos sizzled with 21 points, nine coming in the fourth, on a 4-of-7 shooting from threes. He also had five assists and three rebounds.

John Grospe helped the Heavy Bombers’ cause with 13 markers and seven boards while Darius Estrella and Jordan dela Paz both finished in double figures.

“Buhay pa (We’re still alive.),” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses. “One game at a time. We still have a chance, so let’s do things right. We won this game because of execution, extra pases, and their willingness to compete against Letran.”

The Heavy Bombers, still at sixth spot with a  9-6, record have a fairly easy schedule with games against Perpetual, Lyceum, and San Sebastian to end the second round.

JRU used a 13-2 tear to turn a close 70-69 deficit to an 82-72 lead with 2:43 to play, a lead it wouldn’t give up until the end.

Letran suffered its first two-game skid this season and dropped to econd spot with an 11-4 card. But the tough grind still isn’t over as the the Knights wrap up their elimination round schedule against Arellano, Perpetual, and San Beda.

Kevin Racal paced the Knights in the losing effort with 23 points and five rebounds while Mark Cruz struggled with 17 marlers on a paltry 2-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

The Scores:

JRU 86 – Pontejos 21, Grospe 13, Estrella 11, Dela Paz 10, Teodoro 9, Poutouochi 8, Abdulwahab 5, Sanchez 4, Cruz 3, Astilla 2, Aurin 0, Balagtas 0, Dela Virgen 0.
LETRAN 80 – Racal 23, Cruz 17, Nambatac 12, Sollano 8, Balanza 6, Apreku 4, Luib 4, Calvo 3, Publico 3, Gedaria 0, Balagasay 0, Quinto 0.

Quarters: 25-15, 48-40, 64-62, 86-80.