FILE — JRU’s MJ Dela Virgen. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With its starting guards struggling, Jose Rizal University got a boost from backup MJ Dela Virgen to beat San Beda Tuesday.
Dela Virgen came off the bench and scored a career-high 20 points as he and Tey Teodoro led the Heavy Bombers over the Red Lions, 97-88, in a crucial win.
“Nung pumasok siya sa second quarter, He really gave us a lift. The energy was there,” JRU head coach Vergel Meneses said of his second-year guard, who unleashed 15 points in the second period.
READ: JRU stays hot, compounds San Beda’s woes
“Sumunod lang kami sa game plan ni coach and nasasakto rin na sa pasahan namin ako yung nalilibre so tinitira ko talaga,” said Dela Virgen.
Teodoro was named best player of the game after finishing with 28 points on 5-of-9 shooting from long range, but for him, the team wouldn’t have won without Dela Virgen.
“Siya backup pero siya rin nag-step up. Siya rin ang dahilan bakit kami nanalo,” Teodoro said.
The 19-year-old Dela Virgen also waxed hot from downtown, going 4-of-9, while also collecting four assists and three steals in close to 29 minutes.