MANILA, Philippines – Jose Rizal University showed no mercy on a hapless Perpetual Help, fashioning out an easy 83-58 victory yesterday to gain a share of the lead with San Sebastian and Arellano U in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
James Sena exploited Altas’ sloppy defense and scored 14 points while pulling down a season high 18 rebounds and dishing off eight assists in leading the Bombers to their second straight win.
“I told the boys to just pound the ball inside and give it to James and I’m happy it worked out well,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia, whose wards struggled past Letran, 69-66, last week.
In the other seniors game, College of St. Benilde leaned on a late basket by rookie Jan Tan as it stunned Mapua, 74-70, to force a four-way tie at the helm.
Veteran guard Jeff Morial drew the Cardinals’ defense as he drove to the basket, leaving the 6-5 Tan wide-open for the win.
“This is a confidence-builder going to our tough assignments against San Sebastian, San Beda and Letran,” said St. Benilde coach Richard del Rosario.
Morial finished with 18 points while Chuck Dalanon had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Blazers, who matched their 2-0 start last season.
The Cardinals fell to their second straight setback.
Jose Rizal’s domination of the paint also allowed John Wilson and Mark Cagoco to go on a shooting spree from the long range where they combined for nine of the team’s 10 triples.
The Bombers also dedicated the win to the late Jose Rizal founder Armand V. Fabella.
Raffy Ynion and rookie Chrisper Elopre, who had tried out for JRU before going to Perpetual, paced the Altas with 13 points apiece.
Earlier, the JRU Light Bombers rode on the sterling games of Joshua Saret and Louie Vigil as they outlasted the Univ. of Perpetual Help Altalettes, 101-95, for a 1-1 card in junior play.
In the other juniors game, College of Saint Benilde led from start to finish and routed Mapua, 99-65, for its second straight victory. The Cards fell to 0-2.
Saret scattered 30 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, while Vigil took charge in the third, hitting 14 points before windup up with 29.
The two teams fought it on even terms in the first two quarters, closing out the half at 46-all.
But the Light Bombers stepped up their charge at resumption with Vigil scoring eight unanswered baskets and Saret hitting a triple to give JRU its biggest lead at 63-52, with 4:30 minutes left in the period.
But the Altalettes refused to go down and fought back in the fourth behind their fastbreak game and outside firepower, pulling to within, 81-82, with over three minutes left in the contest.
Saret, however, took over for the Light Bombers, making clutch baskets to hold off the Altalettes, who reeled to their second straight defeat. – With report from Dino Maragay