JRU stuns Letran; Mapua nails No. 6

Games Tuesday

10 a.m. – EAC vs Perpetual (jrs)

12 noon – San Sebastian vs San Beda (jrs)

2 p.m. – EAC vs Perpetual (srs)

4 p.m. – San Sebastian  vs San Beda (srs)

MANILA, Philippines - Jose Rizal U pulled off a king-size upset over Letran, 86-80, yesterday, toppling the Knights from the leaderboard while keeping its slim semifinal hopes alive in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Paolo Pontejos buried two triples from way out in the fourth to fend off the Knights’ repeated comebacks from 10 points down and help power the Bombers to their ninth win against six losses.

Pontejos wound up with 21 points, including nine in the last 10 minutes of the contest.

“We won the game because we executed our plays well in the clutch,” said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses.

JRU remained at sixth but the hard-earned win gave the Bombers some boost in their final push in a wild race to the Final Four.

The loss dropped Letran from the top to second at 11-4, enabling idle San Beda to wrest the solo lead at 11-3 with Perpetual Help moving to solo third with a 70-47 rout of St. Benilde earlier.

A surging Mapua likewise firmed up its semis bid with an 81-76 victory over Arellano, tying its victim at fourth at 10-5 heading to the homestretch of the double-round elims.

Nigerian Allwell Oraeme came through with another monster game as the Cardinals stunned the Chiefs to stretch their amazing run to six and bolster their semifinal drive after finishing last the last two seasons.

The 6-9 Oraeme scored 15 points and pulled down 30 rebounds after dropping 18 points and 30 caroms in a shock 82-77 upset over Letran last week.

“It was gratifying to see my players starting to really play hard,” said Ed Cordero, who took over for Mapua again as head coach Atoy Co served the last of his two-game suspension for unsportsmanlike act.

Scottie Thompson posted his sixth triple-double of the season with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while the Altas held the Blazers to one of the season’s worst scoring to hike their record to 10-4 for solo third.

St. Benilde’s output was the second lowest next to Lyceum, which dropped a 42-70 defeat, also to Perpetual Help last Sept. 1.

Nigerians Bright Akhuetie and Prince Eze backed up Thompson with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The scores:

First Game

Perpetual Help 70 – Thompson 21, Akhuetie 11, Eze 10, Dagangon 9, Ylagan 8, Coronel 4, Sadiwa 4, Dizon 3, Oliveria 0, Tamayo 0, Gallardo 0, Elopre 0

St. Benilde 47 – Grey 14, J. Domingo 12, Jonson 7, Ongteco 7, Saavedra 7, Nayve 0, S. Domingo 0, Deles 0, Sta. Maria 0, Castor 0, Dixon 0, San Juan 0, Fajarito 0

Quarterscores: 21-11; 40-19; 51-35; 70-47

Second Game

MAPUA 81  – Biteng 15, Oraeme 15, Serrano 14, Braña 11, Nieles 8, Menina 7, Que 3, Nimes 3, Raflores 3, Isit 2, Villaseñor 0.

ARELLANO 76  – Salado 17, Jalalon 16, Gumaru 13, Holts 9, Meca 7, Bangga 7, Cadavis 4, Nicholls 3, Capara 0, Enriquez 0, Ortega 0, Tano 0.

Quarterscores: 23-20, 33-43, 54-62, 81-76

Third Game

Jose Rizal 86 – Pontejos 21, Grospe 13, Estrella 11, Dela Paz 10, Teodoro 9, Abdul Wahab 5, Sanchez 4, Cruz 3, Astilla 2, Aurin 0, Balagtas 0, dela Virgen 0

Letran 80 – Racal 23, Cruz 17, Nambatac 12, Sollano 8, Balanza 6, Apreku 4, Calvo 3, Publico 3, Gedaria 0, Balagasay 0, Quinto 0

Quarterscores: 25-15; 48-40; 64-62; 86-80