The Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers survived the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons in a shootout, 85-77, to secure the number one spot in the quarterfinals of the 2015 FilOil-Flying V Hanes Premier Cup Friday afternoon at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
The Heavy Bombers opened up a 16-10 cushion midway into the first quarter, with Abdel Poutouochi and Marco Balagtas providing baskets for the early lead. AdU answered back with layups from Ivan Villanueva and Joseph Nalos to close in, 16-14, but JRU scored five more to close the quarter up, 21-16.
Adamson snatched the lead, 26-23, behind baskets from Dawn Ochea and William Polican in the second quarter. However, AdU could not stretch its lead further, with JRU’s defense barring them from buying baskets. JRU regained the lead, 30-29, with less than four minutes left, but could not also widen the gap, ending the half all tied at 36.
Both squads shot the lights out in the third frame, not allowing each other to pull away widely. From a 44-all knot, JRU sprinted to a 9-3 run behind Balagtas and Dave Sanchez to take the upper hand, 53-47, less than four minutes to go. Adamson did their best to trim the deficit, scoring eight points to approach the final quarter behind by just three, 58-55.
The Mandaluyong-based cagers sustained their lead in the fourth quarter, 67-62, in the 6:59 mark, but Adamson sent the game to a tie at 69-all with less than five minutes to go. JRU, meanwhile, caught fire down the stretch, outscoring AdU 15-5 to post a ten-point lead, 84-74, less than two minutes left. The Heavy Bombers toughened up on D to seal the 85-77 win.
“Ang sabi ko nga sa kanila, don’t take this game lightly,” shared JRU head coach Vergel Meneses, with regards to his team’s play against a young Adamson squad. “We can’t be complacent, because AdU is a good team.”
Poutouochi paced the Heavy Bombers with a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing down 17 rebounds. Sanchez scored 12, while Ervin Gorospe and Paolo Pontejos chipping in 12 and 10, respectively. Nico Capote had 17 points, highlighted by 5 triples, to lead AdU in a losing effort.
The Scores:
JRU 85 – Poutouochi 20, Sanchez 12, Gorospe 12, Pontejos 10, Balagtas 8, Aurin 8, Teodoro 4, Dela Paz 2, Lasquety 2, Dela Virgen 2, Abdulwahab 0.
AdU 77 – Capote 17, Ochea 13, Tungcab 12, Nalos 11, Garcia 6, Ng 5, Bernardo 4, Polican 4, Baytan 2, Villanueva 2, Pedrosa 1, Barrera 0, Espleta 0.
| TEAMS | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH |
| JRU (A, 7-1) | 21 | 36 | 58 | 85 |
| AdU (A, 2-6) | 16 | 36 | 55 | 77 |
