Bombers down Altas
JOSE Rizal University stretched its winning streak to three following a 71-65 conquest of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
With leading Agem Miranda having an off-game and team captain Ry Dela Rosa still out, coach Louie Gonzales applauded his Bombers for the character they showed sans their key players.
“Yung maganda na nakita ko is that instead na hinanap namin yung puntos ni Agem, nag-stick kami sa maglalaro kami sa bawat isa,” said Gonzales after JRU improved to 4-1 overall in second place.
Lyceum of the Philippines University continued to lead the standings with a perfect 5-0 card.
Later, College of Saint Benilde checked a two-game slide with a 87-72 romp of San Sebastian.
Migs Oczon shot 29 points on a 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc as the Blazers broke the game wide open by in the fourth quarter by holding the Stags scoreless in the first 4:35 to chalk up their second win in five matches.
“To be honest, the first four teams that we played are all Final Four contenders. The beauty of this NCAA tournament is every team can beat one another,” said Benilde coach Charles Tiu.
“It feels relieved to get the win no matter what, like just wow. It’s so tough to win the NCAA. I don’t think people understand that we could easily have gone 4-0. We could have gone 0-4 also.
That’s the way it is,” he added.
Shawn Argente stepped up in a reserve role for the Bombers with 17 points, three assists, three boards and two steals while Joshua Guiab chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.
The Altas, who were led by Cyrus Nitura’s 19 points, stumbled with their third loss in four games in a tie with the Stags in seventh place. (Theodore P. Jurado)
The scores:
First Game
JRU (71) – Argente 17, Guiab 12, Dionisio 8, Medina 8, Sarmiento 7, de Leon 6, Miranda 6, Delos Santos 5, Pabico 2, Ramos 0, Arenal 0, Sy 0, Mosqueda 0, Barrera 0.
Perpetual (65) – Nitura 19, Razon 14, Pagaran 12, Roque 11, Ferreras 8, Boral 1, Omega 0, Barcuma 0, Orgo 0, Geisano 0, Abis 0, Cuevas 0.
Quarterscores: 20-14; 40-35; 52-49; 71-65
Second Game
Benilde (87) – Oczon 29, Nayve 16, Gozum 13, Arciaga 9, Marasigan 6, Turco 5, Corteza 4, Jarque 3, Sangco 2, Carlos 0, Cajucom 0, Marcos 0, Morales 0.
SSC-R (72) – Are 15, Escobido 13, Calahat 12, Una 8, Sumoda 7, Re. Gabat 5, Shanoda 5, Felebrico 3, Desoyo 3, Ra. Gabat 1, Bacani 0, De Leon 0.
Quarterscores: 17-20; 43-39; 64-59; 87-72.
