The Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers limited the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers to just 49 points, on just 32% shooting, in a blowout win, 67-49, Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The Benilde Blazers started their leading scorer Jonathan Grey in the game, a move that helped the Gabby-Velasco mentored team go toe-to-toe with the Heavy Bombers. Grey and Fons Saavedra scored four points apiece in the first four minutes of the game to give CSB a 10-7 lead. After a timeout, the Heavy Bombers turned it on on defense. The Blazers had a hard time looking for the open shot resulting to various 24-second violations. Jordan dela Paz then scored the last four points of the quarter to give JRU a 15-14 lead to end the opening quarter.
The Blazers continued to struggle in the second stanza of the game especially on defense. The interior passing of the Heavy Bombers were on point during the quarter that resulted to easy baskets or fouls. In the quarter, the broken down CSB defense gave up six fouls that resulted to ten free throw attempts. Moreover, the stingy Jose Rizal defense gave up just eight points in the quarter resulting to a huge 17-4 rally in the last six minutes of the quarter to give the Heavy Bombers a huge 39-22 lead entering half time.
Tey Teodoro, who already had 12 points during the first half, exploded with six straight points to start the third canto. That spurt gave JRU a 21-point lead by the midway point of the third. In addition, the steady presence of Abdoul Poutouochi and Abdulrazak Abdulwahab in the inside forced the Blazers to shoot from the outside. Also, Gio Lasquety limited the CSB’s main man, Jonathan Grey, to a poor shooting night (2/17).
The lead of the Heavy Bombers grew to as high as 25 points to start the final quarter, 58-33. The Taft-based squad tried to muster a mini spurt to cut the lead but proved too late. The game ended with Jose Rizal holding an 18-point lead, 67-69.
“We have a huge chance of winning if we hold our opponents to under 70 points,” JRU mentor Vergel Meneses said. The team held the Blazers to the second lowest-output in the current season with just 49 points.
Smart Elite ambassador Tey Teodoro led the Heavy Bombers with 21 points on 9/14 shooting. Teodoro also grabbed eight rebounds and stole the ball thrice. “Sinabi ko na kay Tey [Teodoro] start of the season pa lang na he is my go-to-guy. He accepted that role but not forgetting to pass to his teammates,” the PBA Hall of Famer said about the Smart Elite ambassador.
For the Blazers, JR Ongteco and Fons Saavedra scored ten apiece while Jonathan Grey was limited to just six points.
The CSB Blazers (1-5) next assignment will be on Tuesday, August 4 against the SSC-R Stags while the JRU Heavy Bombers (4-2) face a tough task in facing the SBC Red Lions on Thursday, August 6 at 2:00pm.
The Scores:
JRU (67) – Teodoro 21, Grospe 9, Poutouochi 7, Dela Paz 7, Cruz 6, Pontejos 5, Sanchez 5, Balagtas 3, Abdulwahab 2, Dela Virgen 2, Lasquety 0, Estrella 0.
CSB (49) – Ongteco 10, Saavedra 10, Nayve 7, Castor 6, Grey 6, Fajarito 5, Young 2, San Juan 2, Jonson 1, Domingo J. 0, Domingo S. 0, Deles 0, Sta. Maria 0.
Quarterscores: 15-14, 39-22, 55-31, 67-49.
