Chiefs score pivotal win
MANILA, Philippines — Commit, defend, share the ball.
Those were the three things that Arellano U coach Chico Manabat wrote on the board during halftime and the Chiefs followed them to the letter in the second half as they turned back the San Sebastian Stags, 69-61, to stay at second in Group B in NCAA Season 102 at the Filoil Centre yesterday.
Spitfire guard Tmc Ongotan paced AU with an all-around performance of 22 points, five rebounds, four blocks and two steals.
Ongotan, bucking a right ankle injury, was at the core of AU’s second-half turnaround where it held down SSC-R to just 21 points.
The Chiefs improved to an even 6-6 record to boost their chance at claiming one of the two twice-to-beat advantages in the quarterfinals from their bracket.
Later, Jose Rizal U outgunned Mapua in the fourth period and hammered out a 71-58 win to reclaim the solo lead in Group A with 9-3.
The Cardinals sputtered to 6-6.