MANILA – Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers pulled off a tight 92-89 victory over Arellano University Chiefs in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The game was so tight that both teams had a total of 11 deadlocks and 16 lead changes before the Heavy Bombers went away to bag their second win in six outings.
Marvin Raymundo led the Heavy Bombers with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Shawn Argente and Joshua Guiab added 20 and 18 points, respectively.
“Usually, last year, kapag endgame (at dikitan ang laro) nawawala sila eh, they are new to the role, but pina-realize ko sa kanila na malaki ang tiwala ko sa kanila,” said JRU head coach Louie Gonzales.
The Heavy Bombers leaned on conversions by Guiab and Argente in the fourth quarter as they created separation from the Chiefs for an 87-78 advantage.
The Chiefs still managed to make a run in the final minutes of the contest but the closest they came is at three points, 89-92, after Renzo Abiera missed on a game-tying three-point attempt.
Jeadan Ongotan top-scored for the Chiefs with 20 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Lorenz Capulong and Basti Valencia tallied 15 apiece. They dropped to a 1-5 mark.
Meanwhile, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights (4-2) squandered an early double-digit lead before escaping with a 75-73 triumph over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (2-4).
Kevin Santos led the Knights with 17 points, six blocks, and five rebounds, Vince Cuajao added 14 markers, while Johnsherick Estrada and Paolo Javillonar had 11 and 10, respectively.
This is the Knights’ first winning streak under head coach Allen Ricardo following their 71-69 upset over the College of St. Benilde Blazers on Sunday behind Santos’ game-winner./PN
