JRU Heavy Bombers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Jose Rizal University flaunted its might and never really gave PATTS College of Aeronautics a fighting chance for a 90-63 victory in the Luzon-Metro Manila Qualifying Games of the National Collegiate Championship (formerly Philippine Collegiate Champions League) Wednesday at the Technological Institute of the Philippines Gym in Quiapo, Manila.
The Heavy Bombers, who figured in the Final Four of the NCAA, simply denied the Sea Horses a single field goal for five minutes after the opening tip and cruised to victory with slasher Ervin Grospe and spitfire Jed Mendoza doing most of the heavy lifting.
“We limited their penetrations and defended well,’’ said JRU coach Vergel Meneses. “We didn’t relax even after we opened up a big lead.”
Smothered at the defensive end, the Sea Horses trailed by double digits entering the second quarter and found themselves in a much deeper 25-point hole going into the halftime dugout.
Mark Velasco and Cymon Reed finally breathed life into their sagging campaign as PATTS pulled within 15 in the early stages of the fourth.
But the Heavy Bombers immediately corrected the flaw with Kim Aurin, Mark Neil Cruz and Mark Dela Virgen again putting things in proper perspective by relentlessly attacking the lane.
The Heavy Bombers are bracketed with UAAP Final Four campaigner National U in Group B along with the Sea Horses while TIP, Mapua and St. Clare were bunched in Group B.
In the other game, Jorey Napoles scored eight of his 18 points in the last four minutes as Technological Institute of the Philippines turned back Mapua, 70-64, in Group A.
The Engineers unloaded 14 straight points midway in the fourth while holding the Cardinals, who led throughout the contest, without a field goal during the span.
The top finisher in Group B faces South Luzon-Bicol champion Olivarez College and the winner in the single-round contest in Group A takes on Lyceum Northwestern U (North/Central Luzon champion) with the survivors advancing to the Elite Eight set to kick off Dec. 14.
Already seeded in the Elite Eight are UAAP champion FEU, NCAA champion Letran, UAAP runner-up UST and NCAA runner-up San Beda College.
Two more teams from the Visayas and Mindanao qualifiers will complete the Elite Eight cast.
PATTS won the Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association crown, TIP placed second to Centro Escolar U in the National Collegiate Basketball League and St. Clare finished runner-up to CEU in the Naascu.
The scores
First game
JRU 90—Grospe 15, Mendoza 13, Dela Virgen 9, Cruz 9, Aurin 9, Poutouochi 8, Teodoro 8, AdbulWahab 7, Pontejos 4, Dela Paz 2, Estrella 2, Astilla 2, Samonte 2, Benemerito 0, Evardo 0.
PATTS 63—Velasco 11, Reed 10, Diaz 10, Calubag 9, Loyola 9, Capinding 5, Orada 5, Pimentel 2, Fandialan 2, Cayson 0, Noble 0, Borja 0, Beltran 0, Manansala 0.
Quarters: 21-4, 43-18, 69-49, 90-63
Second game
TIP 70—Napoles 18, Namocatcat 16, Okoronkwo 8, Tumalip 7, Alcober 7, Ibanes 6, Benavides 3, Lara 2, Akrupu 2, Alvarado 1, Roldan 0, Santos 0.
MAPUA 64—Dela Rosa 14, Brana 10, Gabo 8, Serrano 7, Bunag 7, Isit 5, Nieles 4, Aguirre 4, Raflores 3, Biteng 2.
Quarters: 22-25, 36-41, 48-56, 70-64