JRU Bombers destroy EAC Generals; Lyceum Pirates up

MANILA, Philippines—The Jose Rizal U Bombers pulled their acts together in the second half to down Emilio Aguinaldo College, 90-77, Monday in the NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Bombers, already assured of a Final Four berth, streaked to their sixth straight victory to cap their remarkable rise from a woeful 3-9 start to a 9-9 record on the penultimate day of eliminations.

Lyceum, the league’s overachieving newcomer, also wrapped up its campaign with a sixth-best 7-11 card following a 94-89 overtime win over St. Benilde in the second game.

John Lopez unloaded eight of his 17 points in a third-quarter breakaway as the Bombers rallied from a 32-42 halftime deficit.

“Our players were thinking that we’re already in the Final Four, that’s why we started flat,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses. “But I told them that we still need the win to build our momentum going into the Final Four.”

The Bombers will take on either San Sebastian or San Beda in the semifinals as the top two seeds dispute the No. 1 spot Wednesday.

Lyceum’s seven-win slate is the best record set by a debuting team in the league.

Floricel Guevarra paced the Pirates with 27 points, including a key triple with just 5.6 seconds left that forged the extra period, 79-79.

The scores:
First Game
JRU 90—Lopez 17, Apinan 14, Villarias 12, Matute 12, Almario 10, Kabigting 10, Montemayor 7, Monserat 6, Mendoza 2, Tiongco 0, Paniamogan 0, Gaco 0, Dela Paz 0, Dizon 0.
EAC 77—Vargas 20, Jamon 16, Paguia 15, Cubo 9, Yaya 6, King 3, Villegas 3, Torralba 2, Chiong 2, Juliano 1, Sanchez 0.
Quarters: 16-17, 32-42, 62-56, 90-77
Second Game
LYCEUM 94—Guevarra 27, Napiza 14, Lacap 11, Cayabyab 11, Francisco 10, Laude 8, Mallari 4, Ko 4, Anacta 3, Azores 2.
ST. BENILDE 89—Lastimosa 24, Tan 12, Pate 11, Sinco 10, Nayve 9, Taha 8, Deles 6, McCoy 3, De Guzman 2, Altamirano 2, Dela Paz 2, Carlos 0.
Quarters: 18-16, 36-37, 59-57, 79-79 (reg.), 94-89 (OT)