Guard, Tey Teodoro starred for the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers, as his go-ahead one-hander with 1.9 seconds left were enough to send them at third place over Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 71-69, in the 2015 FilOil-Flying V Hanes Premier Cup, Sunday afternoon at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
It was a low-scoring affair in the curtain-raising quarter, with both teams starting slow in the offensive end. Both squads found themselves still in a 6-all knot with less than four minutes to go, but JRU went to a 10-6 lead with 1:50 on the clock after back-to-back baskets from Abdel Poutouochi and Paolo Pontejos. FEU Guard, Monbert Arong, sank a jumper to end the quarter trailing by two, 10-8.
JRU opened the second quarter widening the gap to seven, 15-8. FEU, with Arong, Raymar Jose, and Ron Dennison chipping in baskets, sparked an 8-2 run to inch closer, 17-16, with 5:40 to go. The Heavy Bombers, meanwhile, got boosts from Teodoro, Pontejos, and Ervin Gorospe to sprint towards an 11-5 run to close the first half ahead by seven, 28-21.
The Heavy Bombers, in the third canto, were able to post their biggest lead, 40-25, in the 5:27 mark. The Tamaraws were able to trim JRU’s lead to just eight, 42-34, with less than three minutes left, but JRU re-established their double-digit lead, 46-35, six seconds after the two-minute mark. FEU ended the quarter by scoring five more points capped by an Arong layup to head to the fourth down by seven, 47-40.
The Tamaraws surged back on in the final frame, converting their press defense to baskets that trimmed JRU’s lead gradually. Lagging 56-46, FEU, through Dennison, Jose, and Achie Iñigo, closed by just two, 58-56, with 3:34 in the game. JRU took care of the lead, pushing it to 65-59, but the Tamaraws splurged to a 10-4 run to tie, 69-all, after a Mike Tolomia triple with 11.6 seconds to go. But, it was JRU who had the last laugh, as Teodoro sank a leaner with 1.9 seconds to go to lift JRU up, 71-69. Tolomia put up a half-court heave, but his shot went too far, thus sealing the win for JRU.
Assistant Coach, Cholo Villanueva, who took place of Head Coach, Vergel Meneses, was all praises for the feisty Teodoro. “He just wanted the big moment,” said he.
When asked if their third-place finish in the tourney is a big achievement for JRU, Villanueva shared that it is something that they can carry to the real battle, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). “It is an achievement, and it is one step closer to our goal, and that is to win the NCAA championship.”
Teodoro led all scorers with 23 points, while Gorospe and Pontejos backed him up with 14 and 11 points respectively. Achie Iñigo had 14 markers to lead FEU, who played without their Head Coach, Nash Racela, and top three players in Mac Belo, Russel Escoto, and Roger Pogoy.
The Scores:
JRU 71 – Teodoro 23, Gorospe 14, Pontejos 11, Abdulwahab 9, Poutouochi 7, Dela Paz 3, Sanchez 3, Aurin 1, Dela Virgen 0, Balagtas 0.
FEU 69 – Iñigo 14, Arong 13, Tolomia 8, Jose 7, Dennison 7, Orizu 6, Trinidad 6, Tamsi 6, Escoto 2, Bienes 0, Delos Santos 0, Comboy 0, Roxas 0, Holmqvist 0.
| TEAMS | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
| JRU | 10 | 28 | 47 | 71 |
| FEU | 8 | 21 | 40 | 69 |
