JRU stays in hunt for NCAA Final Four

JRU Heavy Bombers jubilant as they keep their final four hopes alive. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.ner

Jose Rizal University lived to fight another day after a come-from-behind 62-60 victory over Perpetual Friday in the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball tournament at San Juan Arena.

“Humihinga pa (We’re still breathing.),” quipped an exhausted Heavy Bombers coach Vergel Meneses, as JRU tied Mapua at 10-6 for fifth place, half a game behind Arellano (10-5) for the last spot in the Final Four.

The Chiefs are playing Letran as of posting time.

Paolo Pontejos ignited a third quarter surge, firing 16 in the frame to power the 18-2 tear for the Heavy Bomber for a 46-44 lead. He finished with 19 points and three rebounds.

Abdel Poutouochi also got a double-double with 12 markers and 12 boards, as Tey Teodoro and John Grospe, who nailed the go-ahead basket with 2:56 remaining, both wound up with 12 points apiece.

The game-winner came as Grospe cleaned up the missed one-two play between Teodoro and Poutouochi to push JRU up, 62-60.

Their defense also proved to be impenetrable as it limited Perpetual to just one field goal in the last 7:02 of the game, forced a 24-second shot clock violation and a forced Gerald Dizon to a harried trey at the buzzer to escape with the win.

Dizon led Perpetual with 15 points while Earl Scottie Thompson just missed out on a triple-double with 12 markers, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
The Altas fell to third with their 11-5 slate.

The Scores:

JRU 62 – Pontejos 19, Poutouochi 12, Teodoro 12, Grospe 12, Lasquety 4, Cruz 2, Dela Virgen 1, Astilla 0, Sanchez 0, Balagtas 0, Dela Paz 0, Estrella 0.
PERPETUAL 60 – Dizon 15, Thompson 12, Akhuetie 9, Dagangon 7, Eze 6, Coronel 4, Gallardo 4, Oliveria 3, Ylagan 0, Tamayo 0, Sadiwa 0.

Quarters: 11-17, 26-38, 55-52, 62-60.