Bombers smother Blazers, enhance drive for Final Four

MANILA, Philippines - Jose Rizal University rebounded from a stinging setback with a 71-63 victory over St. Benilde yesterday to get back into the thick of things in the 92nd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Cameroonian Abdel Poutouochi, Paolo Pontejos and Teytey Teodoro atoned for their measly 16-point combined output in their 60-63 loss to the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals last Tuesday and pooled 39 points this time, powering the Bombers to their eighth victory against six losses.

JRU actually put the EAC result under protest although the league board still has yet to decide on the merits of the case.

Bombers coach Vergel Meneses said they would like to sweep their last four games to bolster their Final Four bid.

“We have no choice but to win all our remaining games. We did it last year, we could do it again,” said Meneses.

Ranged against a winless squad, the Bombers struggled in the first two quarters, but ran the Blazers to the ground with their running attack in the third, racing to a 62-46 lead.

The Blazers tried to mount a rally in the fourth quarter but could only pull to within eight as the Bombers held sway to foil the Taft-based squad’s bid to nail the elusive first win.

A shoving match between St. Benilde’s Edward Dixon and Jose Rizal’s Gio Lasquety marred the endgame of the contest and the two were slapped a technical foul each.

St. Benilde fell to 0-14.

Meanwhile, the Generals pulled through in a tight endgame battle, thwarting the Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates, 73-66, to keep their slim semis hopes alive with a 5-9 card.

Hamadou Laminou and Sydney Onwubere led the Generals with 20 and 16 points, respectively, while skipper Francis Munsayac poured in 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to help power the Generals to victory.

The Pirates fell to 5-9.

Defending champion Letran, on the other hand, stopped San Sebastian on its track as it fashioned out a 73-61 victory in the third game to even its card at 7-7.

The Stags, who swept their last four matches, slid to 5-10.

The scores:

JRU 71 – Poutouochi 14, Pontejos 14, Teodoro 11, Grospe 8, Cruz 6, Abdul Wahab 5, Mendoza 4, Dela Virgen 4, Lasquety 2, Dela Paz 1, Astilla 1, Dada 1, Evardo 0

CSB 63 – Haruna 14, Dixon 13, Domingo 10, Saavedra 8, Young 6, Castor 4, Fajarito 4, Sta. Maria 4, Pajarillaga 0, Pasamante 0

Quarterscores: 21-16, 38-33, 62-46, 71-63

Second Game (srs)

EAC 73 – Laminou 20, Onwubere 16, Munsayac 15, King 6, Neri 5, Diego 4, Morada 3, Aguas 2, Serrano 2, Corilla 0, Guzman 0, Mendoza 0, Pascua 0

LPU 66 – Alban 18, Nzeusseu 16, Marata 9, Alanes 5, Soliman 4, Magbuhos 4, Rubite 3, Bulawan 2, Caduyac 2, Serafico 2, Gabayni 1, Baltazar 0, Malabanan 0

Quarterscores: 21-8; 35-24; 46-47; 73-66

Third Game (srs)

Letran 73 – Calvo 16, Nambatac 16, Apreku 9, Quinto 9, Sollano 8, Ambohot 5, Bernabe 5, Balanza 4, Luib 1, Balagasay 0, Sario 0

San Sebastian 61 – Calisaan 24, Costelo 12, Capobres 7, David 6, Bulanadi 5, Baetiong 2, Serajosef 2, Valdez 2, Ilagan 1, Fabian 0, Gayosa 0, Mercado 0, Quipse 0, Calma 0

Quarterscores: 15-all; 36-28; 53-41; 73-61