JRU stays hot, compounds San Beda’s woes

JRU’s Tey Teodoro. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER>net

Jose Rizal University continued its resurgence after hammering out a masterful 97-88 win over San Beda in the NCAA Season 92 men’s basketball tournament Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Tey Teodoro and MJ Dela Virgen combined for 48 points as both took turns in fueling the Heavy Bombers’ offensive attack.

Teodoro fired 13 of his game-high 28 points in the third quarter while Dela Virgen added 15 of his 20 points in the second period as JRU won five of its last six games.

The Bombers were deadly from the outside, going 11-of-19, but what impressed their head coach Vergel Meneses was their teamwork.

“Ngayon ko lang nakita na nagpasahan ng ganyan. Lagi kong ine-emphasize sa kanila yan na you have to trust everybody on this team,” said Meneses, who also savored sweeping San Beda for the first time in the elimination round.

“Overall, it’s more on our passing rather than our shooting kaya may mga open na tao. Wala akong nakitang forced shot.”

It was a wire-to-wire victory for JRU, which opened the game on a 9-0 run and led by as much as 27.

The Red Lions, who failed to clinch a Final Four spot for the second straight game, showed some fight in the fourth quarter, but never really threatened with Teodoro, Dela Virgen making timely plays.

JRU hiked its record to 9-6 to breath down the neck of Mapua, which still holds the fourth slot at 8-5 due to better percentage.

With the loss, San Beda (11-4) has now lost three of its last four games to relinquish the top spot to Arellano University (11-3), which earlier won over Lyceum.

Javee Mocon led the Lions with a near double-double effort of 26 points and nine rebounds.