The Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers used a second half streak to tarnish University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) Altas’ unblemished record, 67-58, in the 2015 FilOil-Flying V Hanes Premier Cup Saturday afternoon at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The Altas raised an 11-4 lead in the opening quarter, with Bright Akhuetie and Earl Thompson providing the needed baskets. JRU erased the deficit with an 8-3 run behind Kim Aurin and Abdel Poutouochi to trim the deficit closing the quarter, 15-12.
UPHSD widened the slim lead to a seven-point, 25-18 advantage in the 6:44 mark of the second quarter after a Prince Eze layup. However, the Altas seemed to have lost their offensive edge, giving JRU a chance to convert baskets at the other end. Behind the efforts of Paolo Pontejos, Razak Abdul-Wahab, and Marco Balagtas, the Heavy Bombers only trailed by one, 31-30, to end the first half.
JRU, through their defensive schemes, was able to drift away with the lead, 45-39, after a one-hander from Dave Sanchez with less than four minutes left. The Altas inched within two, 47-45, after another Eze layup, but Pontejos and Cris Dela Paz joined forces to initiate a 9-0 spree to end the frame in JRU’s favor, 56-45.
Behind Akhuetie and Gerald Dizon, UPHSD trimmed away JRU’s double-digit lead to just eight, 58-50, less than six minutes remaining. Akhuetie was chipping in baskets to keep it close, but his efforts on both ends were not enough, as JRU saw themselves up by ten, 65-55, after a Pontejos triple with 2:43 on the clock. Akhuetie, again, scored off a split free throw and a layup to get close, 65-58, but a jumper from Tey Teodoro in the dying seconds dealt UPHSD their first loss in the tournament.
“The bottomline is we made stops. We played defense,” said JRU head coach Vergel Meneses. “Yun ang importante. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, it’s our defense that won us the game,” he added.
Pontejos led the Heavy Bombers, now at solo position with a 6-1 record, with 14 points, sinking 3/4 triples. Poutouochi had 12 points and nine rebounds, while Teodoro added 11 markers. Akhuetie posted a double-double of 26 points and 12 boards for the now-5-1 Altas in a losing effort.
JRU will face Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Friday, June 5, at 1:30 PM, while UOHSD will try to bounce back against College of St. Benilde Blazers on Wednesday, June 3, at 10 AM to open up the quintuplet-header at the said date.
The Scores:
JRU 67 – Pontejos 14, Poutouochi 12, Teodoro 11, Sanchez 8, Dela Paz 7, Abdul-Wahab 7, Balagtas 6, Aurin 2, Gorospe 0, Dela Virgen 0, David 0
UPHSD 58 – Akhuetie 26, Oliveria 6, Dizon 6, Dagangon 5, Thomposn 4, Eze 4, Bantayan 4, Coronel 2, Sadiwa 2, Elorpe 0, Ylagan 0, Gallardo 0
| TEAMS | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH |
| JRU (A, 6-1) | 12 | 30 | 56 | 67 |
| UPHSD (A, 5-1) | 15 | 31 | 45 | 58 |
