With Jose Rizal University on the brink of elimination from Final Four contention in the NCAA Season 100 Seniors Basketball Tournament, Mart Barrera stepped up off the bench to guide the Heavy Bombers past the Letran Knights with a stunning 90-86 upset on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Barrera answered the call from head coach Louie Gonzalez, stepping up in the absence of leading scorer Shawn Argente, who exited the game early due to cramps.
The JRU backup guard delivered an impressive performance, scoring 22 points on an efficient 66% shooting in just 22 minutes of play, making the most of his opportunity.
The Heavy Bombers held a narrow five-point lead over Letran in the final minutes of the matchup, requiring every ounce of effort on both ends to maintain their advantage.
After Letran’s Rafael Go trimmed the lead to just one possession at 87-84, JRU faced another chance to increase their lead but allowed Letran to launch a counterattack.
As Letran raced down the court, Patrick Ramos disrupted a pass and forced a turnover, regaining possession for JRU with 24 seconds left.
With the clock winding down, Joshua Guiab sank three crucial free throws to secure the victory.
“Facing this talent-laden Letran Knights, we know it’s gonna be hard,” said Gonzalez. “Pareho kasi kami ng sitwasyon right now, we’re fighting for our lives, so we expect na talagang kahit sinong kalaban namin, we’re gonna come out strong.”
Guiab was reliable for JRU, contributing 19 points in the win, while Marj De Leon added 10 points.
This victory avenged JRU’s earlier defeat to Letran, where they suffered their third consecutive loss of the season in a 62-70 bout. The Heavy Bombers improved to a 4-10 record, narrowly avoiding elimination with this much-needed win.
They look to carry momentum into their next game on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. against defending champions San Beda University.
Despite the loss, Jimboy Estrada continued to impress since returning from suspension, following up his previous 30-point performance with 29 points, seven rebounds, and five assists against JRU.
Estrada’s backcourt partner, Jace Miller, was also productive off the bench, adding 16 points on 50% shooting. Deo Cuajao was the only other Letran player in double digits, contributing 13 points.
The Knights barely held onto the fourth spot, now at a 7-7 record, as Emilio Aguinaldo College has a chance to surpass them in the standings following their battle on Wednesday at 11:00 AM.
The Scores:
Jose Rizal 90 – Barrera 22, Guiab 19, De Leon 10, Argente 9, Ramos 7, Bernardo 7, Sarmiento 7, Raymundo 6, Pangilinan 3, Panapanaan 0, De Jesus 0, Lozano 0, Benitez 0, Mosqueda 0
Letran 86 – Estrada 29, Miller 16, Cuajao 13, Go 9, Jumao-As 7, Montecillo 6, Nunag 3, Santos 2, Javillonar 1, Dimaano 0
Quarterscores: 28-22, 45-48, 63-61, 90-86
