MANILA, Philippines - Darius Estrella completed an alley-oop pass with 1.8 seconds left as Jose Rizal University shocked five-peat champion San Beda, 76-74, at the start of the juniors division of the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at the San Juan Knights Gym in San Juan yesterday.
Estrella, using a pick set by Patrick Anonueva, took the pass from MJ Dela Vergel and hit the basket, shattering the 74-all count and lifting the Light Bombers to the stirring victory.
“Darius was really our first option in our backdoor play. Good thing the boys executed our play to perfection,” said Jose Rizal coach Nat Gregorio.
The upset win somehow made up for the Heavy Bombers’ 49-57 defeat to the Lions in seniors play at the MOA Arena Saturday while putting the Cubs’ ambitious bid for a first-ever six-peat on the wrong foot.
San Beda won five straight crowns in high school and topped the Palarong Pambansa in Sta. Cruz, Laguna last month, making the Cubs the heavy favorites to complete an unprecedented sixth championship.
But the Light Bombers had other things in mind.
“The feeling was amazing because we never expected this win,” said Gregorio.
Meanwhile, last year’s semifinalist Perpetual Help and Mapua clash while Lyceum and Arellano U collide as action in the seniors division resumes today at The Arena in San Juan.
Winners will join opening day victors San Beda and San Sebastian in the early lead.
The Altas battle the Cardinals at 12 noon while the Chiefs and Pirates slug it out at 2 p.m.
Perpetual coach Aric del Rosario said the Altas have lost high scoring Nosa Omorgbe of Nigeria and starting point guard Chrisper Elopre but kept the core of the same team that reached the Final Four in the last two seasons.
They include Harold Arboleda, Earl Scottie Thompson, Justine Alano, Joel Jolangcob and the prolific Juneric Baloria, who torched Filoil Flying V champion La Salle with 41 points in their elimination round duel last month.
“Everyone is looking at us as a title contender because we have an intact lineup,” said del Rosario. “We hope we could live up to it.”
But the Altas will go up against the Cardinals raring to bounce back from their worst finish in years – a last place effort last season when they won just two games in 18 assignments.
Coach Atoy Co said there’s no other way for Mapua but up.
“All I can promise is we will win more games,” said Co.
Arellano U, for its part, will have new coach Jerry Codiñera as the Chiefs seek their first ever Final Four stint since entering the league five years ago.
“Our goal is to make it to the Final Four,” said Codiñera, who hopes to draw the best from John Pinto, Prince Caperal, Keith Agovida, Ralph Salcedo, Zach Nichols and Levi Hernandez.
Arellano U will also parade Fil-Ams Dioncee Holts and David Ortega while Isiah Ciriacruz is making a return from a three-year hiatus.