Chiefs turn to Holts in win over Generals; Bombers triumph

Games Wednesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

12 p.m. – Lyceum vs San Beda (jrs/srs)

4 p.m. – Mapua vs Letran (srs/jrs)

MANILA, Philippines – Arellano U unleashed American Dioncee Holts on Emilio Aguinaldo's Cameroonian behemoth Noube Happi in the fourth quarter as it escaped with an 80-73 victory to jump to the top along with four-peat titlist San Beda and Perpetual Help in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Monday.

The 6-7 Holts, a rookie transferee out of Citrus College in Glendoria, California, helped contain the 6-8 Happi to just two points in the final period after scoring 15 in the first three quarters. The Chiefs then survived a furious Generals rally to book their second straight win.

It was a solid performance from Holts, who came off the bench to contribute 15 points, including a perfect five-of-five from the free throw line and a team-high 10 rebounds that drew praises from his coach.

"With some help from my other big men, Holts did well on Happi even though he is used to play as a small forward back in the States," said Arellano U coach Jerry Codinera.

The win also primed Arellano U up against San Beda, winner of the last four championships and seven of the last eight, when the two collide on Saturday in an interesting clash of two of the last three unbeaten teams standing.

"It's going to be tough match up for us but we're looking forward to that," said Codinera.

Levi Hernandez and John Pinto were the other heroes with the former helping Arellano U erect double-digit leads after firing a team high 20 points, all coming in the first three quarters, while John Pinto had 11 points, six assists and five boards.

Arellano U looked headed to blowing out EAC after it erected a 69-55 edge less than a minute gone by in the last canto.

But Jan Jamon buried two of his five booming triples that sparked a massive run that sent the Generals to within four, 77-73, with 1.25 minutes to go.

It was the closest EAC could get as it couldn't a buy a basket from there.

The Generals, who downed the St. Benilde Blazers, 81-72, last week, suffered their first defeat.

Codinera also rued the first ever technical foul slapped on him in the NCAA late in the game.

"I have nothing against officiating and commissioner (Bai Cristobal) but I was just asking for clarification," said Codinera, who said he got a technical only two or three times during his 17-year career in the PBA.

In the nightcap, Jose Rizal turned back St. Benilde, 61-61, to nail its first win after two straight losses.

Michael Mabulac unloaded 11 of his game-high 16 points in a second quarter run that saw the Bombers turn a shaky 14-13 edge at end of the first quarter to a comfortable 41-26 upperhand at the break.

The Kalentong-based dribblers then made it a 52-32 advantage, their biggest lead of the game, early in the third canto before the Blazers slowly but surely clawed their way back to single-digit deficit in the last period.

A triple by Fil-Am Travis Jonson with 3.28 left in the clock sent St. Benilde back with Jose Rizal's once might lead chopped down to two, 63-61.

That came to be the Blazers' last as the Bombers tightened up the defensive screws to seal their first victory after dropping their first two assignments.

St. Benilde fell to its second loss in a row.

The scores:

First Game

Arellano U 80 – Hernandez 20, Holts 15, Pinto 11, Jalalon 7, Caperal 7, Agovida 5, Bangga 4, Enriquez 4, Ciriacruz 3, Gumaru 2, Salcedo 2, Nicholls 0

EAC 73- Jamon 20, Happi 17, Tayongtong 10, Aguilar 6, Arquero 6, Onwubere 3, Serrano 3, Santos 2, Saludo 2, Mejos 0

Quarterscores: 20-all; 43-40; 67-55; 80-73

Second Game

Jose Rizal 69 – Mabulac 16, Teodoro 11, Sanchez 8, Paniamogan 8, Abdul Wahab 6, Benavides 6, Asuncion 6, Salaveria 5, Lasquety 3, Balagtas 0, Grospe 0

St. Benilde 61- Saavedra 15, Taha 11, Grey 9, Romero 7, Ongteco 5, Deles 4, Jonson 3, Bartolo 3, Nayve 2, Argamino 2, Sinco 0, Altamirano 0

Quarterscores: 14-13; 41-26; 60-45; 69-61