JRU clobbers Letran; Arellano trips Mapua
MANILA, Philippines—Jose Rizal University built an early double-digit lead and hardly wavered on the way to a 76-60 dumping of Letran in the 86th NCAA men’s basketball tournament Friday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Nate Matute turned in a breakout game with 22 points, 15 coming from beyond the arc, to lead the third-running Bombers to their seventh triumph in nine games.
“Finally, he delivered,” JRU coach Vergel Meneses said of the junior guard, who only averaged 4.8 points in the first round. “His hustle and defense have always been there, but this time he nailed his shots.”
Earlier, Ronnel del Rosario also delivered his finest performance yet to power the Arellano Chiefs past the Mapua Cardinals, 76-72, in a game marred by a bench-clearing incident at the final buzzer.
Rosario celebrated his 23rd birthday by firing 21 points built on an impressive 10-of-12 shooting after norming only 2.8 markers in his first nine games.
“We pinpointed from the very start the players who will deliver from Mapua, so we devised a defensive pattern to control them,” said Arellano coach Leo Isaac. “We played well defensively, but Del Rosario was also one of the twists who surprised Mapua.”
Arellano’s Adrian Celada and Mapua’s Andretti Stevens figured in a verbal tussle in the final seconds of the match, prompting Arellano rookie Vergel Zulueta to leave the bench.
This triggered a commotion that had Arellano benchwarmer Erwin Catapang throwing the ball at Mapua’s Raymark Cabrera.
League officials immediately slapped a two-game suspension on Catapang and Cabrera, while Zulueta got a one-game ban.
Adrian Celada delivered anew for the Chiefs with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while rookie Rocky Acidre chipped in 11 points.
Jose Rizal moved half a game off the 7-1 record of defending champion San Sebastian.
Mapua remained fourth with a 5-4 slate, while Letran dropped to 3-6.
“At least we’re now seeing the potential of our team,” said Meneses. “I think we’re at 70 percent. But we always try to go a notch higher every game. We had so many turnovers (36), but at least our defense was still there.”
Alex Almario had 13 markers and Marvin Hayes, who showed his wares just hours earlier in the PBA rookie camp, shot 13 points.
The seniors scores:
First Game
ARELLANO 76—Del Rosario 21, Celada 17, Acidre 11, Lapuz 8, Tayongtong 8, Ciriacruz 4, Palma 3, Zulueta 2, Casino 2, Caperal 0.
MAPUA 72—Cornejo 29, Guillermo 9, Pascual 8, Mangahas 8, Ighalo 7, Sarangay 7, Stevens 2, Parala 2, Cabrera 0.
Quarters: 13-10, 39-31, 59-51, 76-72
Second Game
JOSE RIZAL 76—Matute 22, Almario 13, Hayes12, Lopez 8, Kabigting 6, Bulangis 6, Apinan 4, Njei 3, Montemayor 2, Etame 0, Badua 0.
LETRAN 60—Belencion 14, Cortes 11, Alas Ke. 10, Espiritu 8, Taplah 5, Belorio 4, Alas Kr. 4, Dysam 3, Pantin 1, Almazan 0.
Quarters: 17-13, 42-23, 56-43, 76-60
First Game
ARELLANO 76—Del Rosario 21, Celada 17, Acidre 11, Lapuz 8, Tayongtong 8, Ciriacruz 4, Palma 3, Zulueta 2, Casino 2, Caperal 0.
MAPUA 72—Cornejo 29, Guillermo 9, Pascual 8, Mangahas 8, Ighalo 7, Sarangay 7, Stevens 2, Parala 2, Cabrera 0.
Quarters: 13-10, 39-31, 59-51, 76-72
Second Game
JOSE RIZAL 76—Matute 22, Almario 13, Hayes12, Lopez 8, Kabigting 6, Bulangis 6, Apinan 4, Njei 3, Montemayor 2, Etame 0, Badua 0.
LETRAN 60—Belencion 14, Cortes 11, Alas Ke. 10, Espiritu 8, Taplah 5, Belorio 4, Alas Kr. 4, Dysam 3, Pantin 1, Almazan 0.
Quarters: 17-13, 42-23, 56-43, 76-60
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