Villarias sets PBA D-League record with 36 points as JRU routs Fruitas

John Villarias vs Jan Colina. PBA/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—John Villarias set the PBA D-League record for the most points scored in a single game with 36 as Air21-JRU slammed Fruitas, 100-64, Tuesday at the Trinity University of Asia gym in Quezon City.

Villarias punched in for 26 points in the second and third quarter where the Heavy Bombers knocked the Shakers out early, 75-43.

“Nangyayari talaga yun. Lahat ng tira niya (Villarias) pumapasok, actually pati nga yung iba but it’s all about team effort. When we play good defense it’s easy basket for us,” said JRU head coach Vergel Meneses.

The 24-year-old guard, who eclipsed Jopher Custodio and Carlo Lastimosa’s previous high of 32 points, put on a shooting clinic, knocking in seven of his nine three-point attempts, including four big ones in the pivotal second quarter.

It was a close game before JRU went on a 22-3 surge with Villarias leading the way, pushing the Bombers’ lead to 22, 37-15, in the latter part of the second period.

The Shakers tried to regain their form after a 7-0 run bridging the end of the second and start of the third period to cut the deficit to 17, 30-47, but that was just about it as the ball continued to drop for the Heavy Bombers.

“’Di pa din kami puwedeng mag-relax kasi ’di pa din kami pasok. Dapat maging aggressive pa kami sa defense,” Meneses said.

JRU’s suffocating pressure defense set the tone, forcing Fruitas, who had 19 errors, to turn the ball over, which translated to easy buckets on the other end.

The Shakers, whose three-game winning streak was put to an end, leaned on Lastimosa to get them back but the Bombers defense just won’t let up.

JRU pushed its winning run to three to join Fruitas, Café France and Cebuana Lhuillier in a four-way tie in fifth place at 4-4.

Villarias was the lone JRU player in double-digit scoring as Michael Mabulac and Michael Miranda added nine points each.

Philip Paniamogan, whose three-pointer pushed the Bombers’ lead to 37, 86-49, chipped in eight markers. Jeckster Apinan also had eight points.

The Bombers still won big despite missing the services of big man John Lopez, who took a hit on the nose in their previous game.

Lastimosa paced the Shakers with 16 points.