ANYBODY’S BALL Byron Villarias of JRU reaches for the ball as team mate Ralph Monserrat is sandwiched by Russell Yaya and Jan Jamon, both of EAC, during the two schools’ match-up in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan on Monday, October 10, 2011. JRU won, 90-77 PHOTO BY AUGUST DE LA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines—Jose Rizal University (JRU) rose from a double-digit hole to upend Emilio Aguinaldo College, 90-77, to end the elimination round with a six game winning streak in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Forward John Lopez collected 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal and a block for the final-four bound Heavy Bombers, the No. 4 seed at 9-9.
JRU stared at a double-digit deficit at the half before turning it up a notch in the pivotal third quarter where the Bombers outscored the Generals, 30-14.
Jeckster Apinan, whom coach Vergel Meneses cited as JRU’s X-Factor, added 14 points on top of six rebounds and three steals.
EAC dictated the tempo early on as it built a 42-32 buffer at the intermission behind Elyzer Paguia’s 13 first half points.
Paguia finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
The Generals ended their season with a woeful 4-14 record.
JRU was on cue on both ends of the floor as it shot 52% from the field and forced EAC to commit 26 turnovers.
EAC’s Milan Vargas, the former UST swingman, had a game-high 20 points.