MANILA – Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers leaned on a huge fourth quarter breakaway to defeat Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 77-64, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball on Tuesday night at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan.
From a 63-all count, the Heavy Bombers went on a huge 14-1 scoring attack behind Joshua Guiab, Marwin Dionisio, Jonathan Medina, and Agem Miranda to secure the much-needed win.
Dionisio finished with 16 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with eight rebounds and two assists to be hailed Player of the Game for the Heavy Bombers, which now have a 10-6 win-loss slate for fourth place.
“Sabi sa amin ni coach (Luis Jose Gonzalez) before the game na sa game na ito, mananalo lang sino gusto manalo, kaya trinabaho namin, sinunod namin ‘yung system ni coach para makuha ‘yung panalo,” Dionisio said.
“Communication sa loob ng court isa pa ‘yun sa mga reminder ni coach, mahalaga talaga ‘yun sa amin kasi kung may isa lang na hindi sumunod, sasabog talaga ‘yung mga plays namin,” he added.
Guiab chipped in a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds; Medina also contributed 11 markers; and Vince Sarmiento also had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for JRU.
Nat Cosejo and JP Maguliano each finished with 12 points to lead the Generals, while King Gurtiza added 11 markers as they dropped to sixth place in the standings with an 8-8 record.
Meanwhile, the dethroned champions Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights (2-15) secured a 67-58 victory over the Arellano University Chiefs (2-13) to snap their seven-game losing skid.
Against the Chiefs, the Knights nearly suffered another meltdown as they saw their 19-point lead cut to seven points with a minute left in the game, but a layup by Kevin Santos sealed the win for Letran.
Kobe Monje was the lone double-digit scorer with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Jay Garupil added nine points and eight rebounds for the three-time defending champions Knights./PN
