Jose Rizal University recorded its longest win streak in seven years by beating Letran yesterday, 76-72, and in the process moved on top of the standings of the 84th NCAA season.
The Heavy Bombers notched their eighth straight win after losing their first two games, and surpassed their seven-game win streak in the first round of eliminations in 2001.
At 8-2, Jose Rizal took the top position in the eight-team field, and relegated Letran to solo second at 7-2. Back-to-back champion San Beda dealt Letran its only other loss.
Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia almost couldn’t believe what’s happening around him.
“It’s amazing – this feeling of being No. 1,” he said after the game which could have gone either way at The Arena in San Juan.
Vanguardia was a long-time assistant of Letran coach Louie Alas, and the victory over his former mentor only made it sweeter.
The Heavy Bombers made key stops down the stretch as the Knights looked all set to snap Jose Rizal’s amazing win streak.
Jose Rizal went to James Sena in the second half and its bread-and-butter defense, a rough one, the whole game.
And their biggest victim was RJ Jazul, the sharp-shooter from Letran who was limited to just four points on a horrible 1-of-15 shooting.
Earlier, Philippine Christian U bucked the absence of its top two scorers as it crushed St. Benilde, 63-47, for only its second win against eight losses.
Jefferson Vidal fired a career-best 17 points while Timothy McCoy and Marlon Gomez chipped in 10 apiece to make up for the absence of Beau Belga and Lei Navarro.
“Although we’re already out of it, at least we showed we can win games even without our starters,” said PCU coach Joel Dualan, out to steer the Taft-based school to a solid finish before it takes an indefinite leave of absence starting next year.
The win by the Dolphins kicked the Blazers out of the Final Four race after the latter absorbed a seventh setback against three triumphs.