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| Lawrence Mangubat shone brightly anew for JRU. NCAA |
SAN JUAN, MM—Jose Rizal University became the first team in Group A to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament quarterfinals after defeating College of St. Benilde 85-79 at FilOil Centre on Friday.
The Heavy Bombers ended their elimination round with a 10-3 record, the best in the pool as of writing just above San Beda (8-3).
“Coming into the game today, alam naman namin kung ga’no kaimportante ‘to,” said coach Nani Epondulan.
“I told them na matagal ng nakalimutan ‘tong school natin. I told them, they’re writing history so hangga’t hawak namin kapalaran namin, tatrabahuhin lang namin.”
JRU led by nine in the waning moments of the payoff period 79-70 before the Blazers uncorked a short but important 5-0 spurt capped off by an Ian Torres triple to cut their deficit to four 79-75 with 1:34 to go.
Lawrence Mangubat, however, responded with a tough bucket from midrange to extend the lead to six 81-75 with 23 ticks to go.
Torres was able to breathe some life to Benilde with another triple but Mangubat showed ice in his veins with a perfect trip to the free-throw line to keep the Blazers at bay, 83-78, with 16 seconds remaining in the game.
Despite locking down an important incentive for the quarterfinals, Epondulan and company have yet to know who their dance partner is for the postseason.
That reason alone is why the Bombers aren’t celebrating their achievement.
“If I’m not mistaken lahat ng teams na pwede namin nakalaban, nanalo kami sa breaks of the game lang,” said the tactician.
“As a coach, I don’t want to think na may twice-to-beat kami. First game pa lang, gusto na namin kunin ‘yong panalo.”
Mangubat exploded for JRU with 27 points while Sean Salvador and Jahmir Eligado turned in 16 markers each in the dub.
John Morales top scored for the Blazers with 16 points while Justine Sanchez had 13 in the loss that gave Benilde an 8-4 record.
Benilde’s loss also saw the return of two-time league MVP Allen Liwag, who played sparingly with 15 minutes to end up with six points and three rebounds.
The scores:
JRU 85 - Mangubat 27, Salvador 16, Eligado 16, Laurenaria 9, Palis 6, Masiglat 5, Penaverde 4, Garupil 2, Agemenyi 0, Panapanaan 0
CSB 79 - Morales 16, Sanchez 13, Moore 9, Torres 8, Cajucom 7, Ancheta 6, Liwag 6, Celis 6, Lorenzo 3, Podador 3, Galas 2, Jucom 0
Quarters: 20-23, 45-39, 69-59, 85-79
