Sanchez’s putback lifts Bombers over Altas

Games Friday

(The Arena, San Juan)

12 p.m. – Mapua vs St. Benilde (jrs/srs)

4 p.m. – Emilio Aguinaldo vs Lyceum (srs/jrs)

MANILA, Philippines – Jose Rizal leaned on a game-winning putback by second stringer Dave Sanchez as it snatched a 62-61 victory over Perpetual Help to get back on track in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Wednesday.

Sanchez, a native of Laguna, came out of nowhere to snare the muffed 3-pointer by Philip Paniamogan and heaved a floater with 2.3 seconds to go that turned out the game-winner as the Bombers escaped with their third win in as many losses.

It also more than made up for its 84-80 overtime defeat to the Lyceum Pirates last Friday.

"I was just lucky enough to be there. When I got the ball, I just knew I had to take the shot because I knew time was running out," said Sanchez in Filipino.

With all their time outs already burned, Perpetual Help had to rely on trigger-happy Juneric Baloria's desperation triple from near the centerline. It appeared on target when he launched it but ended hitting the right side of the rim as it went down and time expired.

Despite the win, Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses dwelled on their bad execution in the endgame.

"We made a mistake, defensive lapses down the stretch," said Meneses, who also blew their chances in OT in that recent Lyceum loss.

After playing catch up almost all throughout, Paniamogan drained a couple of booming triples--one that tied it at 55-all and another that gave the Kalentong-based school a 60-55 cushion with about two minutes to go.

But Jose Rizal went silence after it as Arboleda made a foul shot, Joel Jolangcob buried a triple and Earl Scottie Thompson nailed a fastbeak lay up as Perpetual Help regained a 61-60 lead with 11.3 seconds to go.

Enter Sanchez, who not only saved the day for Jose Rizal but also prevented Paniamogan from turning hero to goat.

"He (Sanchez) bailed the team and myself out," said Paniamogan, who led his squad with 16 points but threw an errant pass that led to the breakaway basket by Thomspon and air-balled a triple that almost cost them the game.

The Altas fell from No. 2 to No. 3 with a 3-1 (win-loss) record.

The scores:

Jose Rizal 62 – Paniamogan 16, Benavidez 8, Mabulac 8, Sanchez 6, Abdul Wahab 6, Asuncion 6, Grospe 4, Lasquety 4, Salaveria 2, Teodoro 2

Perpetual Help 61 – Baloria 22, Arboleda 11, Alano 10, Thompson 9, Jolangcob 5, Ylagan 2, Bantayan 2, Oliveria 0, Dizon 0, Gallardo 0, Sadiwa 0, Dagangon 0

Quarterscores: 17-all; 31-37; 47-49; 62-61