From NCAA.org.ph
College of Saint Benilde gave Jose Rizal University a dose of its own medicine, escaping with a 57-55 win in Season 89 action of the NCAA at The Arena in San Juan.
The Heavy Bombers, in their first round encounter, pulled off a 73-71 overtime victory.
CSB improved its record to 4-6 while JRU dropped its second straight game for a 5-5 mark.Similar to the preceding game, charities decided the outcome of the match with Mark Romero, playing his final year for the Blazers, making the free throws that gave CSB the cushion it needed to win in the final seconds of the match.
But the Taft-based dribblers had some anxious moments in the game after a Philip Paniamogan three-pointer pushed JRU within one, 55-56, with 16.7 seconds left in the game clock.
Romero then sealed the win with a split from the free throw line as Heavy Bomber team captain Michael Mabulac missed a potential game-tying jumper.
“I want to say that we’re learning from the mistakes in the past. We playd a bad first half. Good thing in the second, we were able to adjust,” said CSB Coach Gabby Velasco.
“Slowly, it’s getting in their minds how to play especially on the defensive end. I was scared again with JRU’s last play in the final five seconds because of the San Beda loss in the first round. Buti nalang this time, we were able to handle it.”
A sluggish start from both teams had Romero scoring the first basket of the game at the 5:21 mark of the first period.
St. Benilde led by seven, 35-28, early in the third but Paniamogan and Marco Balagtas teamed up in a 13-6 run to knot the count at 41-all entering the final quarter.
Baskets from Jonathan Grey helped provide some cushion for the Blazers in the fourth.
Romero is the only Blazer who reached double digits with 15.
JRU, who missed Nick Abanto in today’s game due to a one-game suspension, also felt Paolo Pontejos’ absence as the starting playmaker only saw limited minutes due to shoulder pains that sidelined him majority of the second half.
It was Pontejos’ first scoreless game since the start of the season for JRU.
The Scores:
CSB (57) — Romero 15, Bartolo 8, Grey 8, Garcia 8, Taha 7, Argamino 6, Sinco 2, Deles 2, Ongteco 1.
JRU (55) — Paniamogan 19, Mabulac 11, Balagtas 8, Lasquety 6, Grospe 5, Benavides 4, Sanchez 2, Pontejos 0, Juanico 0, Dela Paz 0, Diego 0.
Quarters: 8-13, 23-27, 41-41, 57-55.
In junior’s basketball, the Greenies defeated the Light Bombers 78-62. LSGH improves to 7-3, tied for third with Malayan in the standings.
The Scores:
LSGH (78) — Rivero 22, Paras 16, Barrera 12, Dela Cruz 9, Ramilo 8, Gob 4, San Juan 4, Salonga 2, Lozada 1, Alcala 0, Abadeza 0, R. Rivero 0.
JRU (62) — Dada 14, Adorio 11, Pallares 10, DelaVirgen 8, Marcial 7, Astrero 5, Bautista 3, Garcia 2, Estrella 2, Yazouri 0, Grande 0, Abrew 0.
Quarters: 21-7, 39-24, 62-46, 78-62.