Lowly Arellano stuns Jose Rizal
ARELLANO produced a second shocker in the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament as the lowly Chiefs brought down the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers, 85-82, yesterday at San Juan Arena.
Rocky Acidre starred in Arellano’s worthiest effort this season with a game-high 22 points, capping his 13-point performance in the final quarter with two free throws, 8.2 seconds to go, for the final count.
The Chiefs picked up only their fourth win in 10 games while inflicting a third loss on the Bombers, who are in a three-way tie for second place with the idle San Sebastian Stags and second-game winner Perpetual Help Altas at 7-3.
Perpetual wasted double-digit leads and in the end, had to escape St. Benilde’s late-game charge to prevail, 78-74.
The Arellano upset came two days after Emilio Aguinaldo also stunned San Sebastian, 77-67, and improved to 3-7 in the kickoff game of the second round.
The Chiefs avenged their lopsided 77-65 loss to the Bombers in the first round.
“Positive attitude produces positive results, that’s what I wrote on the board today,” said Arellano coach Koy Banal. “The Final Four is our next goal.”
The 23-year-old Acidre struck with four three-pointers to push Arellano to a 73-62 lead in the payoff period. His trey in the last three minutes broke a 75-75 tie forged by Nate Matute’s own three-pointer.
Matute led Jose Rizal with 21 points while Byron Villarias fired 17 points, including a four-point play off a foul by Julius Cadavis in the final 45 that brought JRU within 82-83.
But Acidre canned the pressure-laden charities to bail Arellano out of trouble. Matute then launched a desperation shot that was way off as time expired.
The scores:
First Game
ARELLANO 85—Acidre 22, Pinto 16, Forrester 16, Hernandez 9, Zulueta 6, Cadavis 5, Caperal 5, Salcedo 4, Bangga 2.
JOSE RIZAL 82—Matute 21, Villarias 17, Mabulac 13, Lopez 10, Almario 7, Diapera 6, Carampil 6, Camasura 2, Salaveria 0, Porter 0, Maconocido 0, Mendoza 0, Dela Paz 0.
Quarters: 18-13, 34-34, 62-51, 85-82
Second Game
PERPETUAL 78—Vidal 21, Jolangcob 14, Omorogbe 11, Paulino 8, Thompson
7, Arboleda 7, Babayemi 4, Alano 2, Elopre 0.
ST. BENILDE 74—Lastimosa 23, Taha 14, Tan 10, Romero 9, Sinco 6,
Bartolo 5, Grey 3, Deles 2, Altamirano 2, Ongtengco 0, Garcia 0.
Quarters: 13-14, 41-31, 65-51,78-74
