Bombers oust Cardinals; forge playoff playdate vs Stags
MANILA—Hobbled by injuries last year and hardly making an impact for most of the season, Cameroonian center Joe Etame repaid Jose Rizal U’s faith by powering the Bombers to a 60-54 decision over Mapua Wednesday at the start of the stepladder semifinals of the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The 6-foot-7 Etame threw his weight around in the second half, scoring on a wide array of post moves and putbacks to finish with 17 points as the Bombers arranged a knockout duel with San Sebastian for the second championship berth.
The winner of the JRU-San Sebastian game on Friday meets undefeated San Beda in the finals, where the Lions have a thrice-to-beat advantage.
Etame banged in 15 of his total output in the final 14 minutes, including six straight points that capped a 10-2 run, sealing the win for the Bombers, 58-51, with 20 seconds remaining.
“We got the ball to the right guy and that was Joe,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses, whose Bombers beat the Cardinals for the third time this season.
“I’m happy he responded to the challenge since we lost his presence in the second round.”
Etame, who averaged just six points going into the game, was just happy to repay his coach’s trust. “
“I’m very thankful to coach (Meneses). He didn’t give up on us,” said Etame, who also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots.
Marvin Hayes, playing his final season for JRU, also sparkled with eight points in the second half, four of which sparked the late breakaway from 48-47 in the last two and a half minutes.
Etame, Hayes and Alex Almario, who hit two free throws in the last 11 seconds, were actually the only players who scored for the Bombers in the second half.
Despite the loss, the Cardinals still finished two rungs higher than their sixth placing last season.
Erwin Cornejo and TG Guillermo, two players who will no longer be around for the Cardinals next season, wound up with 16 and 13 points, respectively, but main man, Allan Mangahas, struggled with just six on 2-of-15 shooting.
Earlier, San Beda stayed on track for back-to-back juniors division crowns with a come-from-behind 92-80 victory over Letran.
Baser Amer flirted with a triple double, knocking in 22 points that went with 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Cubs forged a championship duel with San Sebastian, which crushed Perpetual Help, 87-76, in the other Final Four match.
The scores:
JRU 60—Etame 17, Almario 10, Hayes 8, Lopez 7, Njei 4, Matute 4, Kabigting 4, Badua 2, Apinan 2, Montemayor 2, Bulangis 0
MAPUA 54—Cornejo 16, Guillermo 13, Banal 11, Mangahas 6, Sarangay 2, Pascual 2, Parala 2, Acosta 2, Ighalo 0
Quarters: 19-13, 32-30, 42-42, 60-54
JRU 60—Etame 17, Almario 10, Hayes 8, Lopez 7, Njei 4, Matute 4, Kabigting 4, Badua 2, Apinan 2, Montemayor 2, Bulangis 0
MAPUA 54—Cornejo 16, Guillermo 13, Banal 11, Mangahas 6, Sarangay 2, Pascual 2, Parala 2, Acosta 2, Ighalo 0
Quarters: 19-13, 32-30, 42-42, 60-54
EDITORS' PICK
