JOSE Rizal University coach Louie Gonzalez wanted his troops to learn from their painful loss to defending two-time champion Letran. The Heavy Bombers heeded Gonzalez’s urgings yesterday.
Ry Dela Rosa boomed in what turned out to be the game-winning three-pointer with 4.8 seconds to go that lifted JRU to a nail-biting 70-67 escape over hard-fighting Arellano University for its second straight win in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Chiefs’ big man Cade Flores missed on a triple try in the ensuing play even as Neil Tolentino grabbed the offensive board and drew a foul. Tolentino muffed his two freebies, only 0.3 ticks left.
Joshua Guiab wound up with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, to go with three assists for the Bombers, while William Sy had 13 markers and six boards.
Marwin Dionisio and JL Delos Santos also added 12 and 10 points, respectively for JRU, which scored a fitting follow-up to its 97-74 drubbing of Emilio Aguinaldo College five days ago and hiked its mark to 2-2 in a tie with San Beda and San Sebastian at fourth.
Arellano, coming off a 72-69 upset of the Knights last Sunday, slipped to 3-2, still good for solo third.
In the other game, San Beda University held off San Sebastian College 78-71 for its second win.
Fil-Canadian guard James Kwekuteye fired 20 points and pulled down three rebounds for the Red Lions, while Peter Alfaro added 11 markers and three caroms.
Tony Ynot and JB Bahio also combined for 20 points as San Beda made up for a stunning 81-89 loss to Lyceum last Saturday and improved to 2-2 in a tie with the Golden Stags.
San Sebastian failed to score a big follow-up to its 57-57 escape over Mapua University four days ago.
“When I spoke to my team noong sitwasyon na iyon I told them ‘Guys, ito ibinalik tayo sa sitwasyon and ito, I hope we handle this better than the last time’,” Gonzalez said.
“The difference lang we’re just one stop away. Again, doon sa sitwasyon na iyon, its’ just being smart,” he added.
The Bombers trailed 35-36 at the half and 45-56 going into the final stanza.
Axel Doromal carried the fight for the Chiefs with 24 points, while Shane Menina had 13.
“It’s good that we were able to experience iyong ganyang mga game kasi iyong first win namin sa EAC, malaki iyong lamang ngayon naman malaki ulit iyong lamang namin, humabol at the same time kahit paano na-contain namin iyong lead namin,” Lions tactician Yuri Escueta said.
“Tapos towards the end noong dikdikan na ang pinaka-gusto ko is we were able to make stops and get rebounds kaya kami nanalo.”
Jessie Sumoda paced the Stags with 19 points and six rebounds, while Kenneth Villapando and Rhinwill Yambing had 13 markers each.
