By: Joaquin Cortez
Jose Rizal University overcame a 12-point deficit behind Chris Hubilla’s best outing yet in a Bombers uniform to fend off Emilio Aguinaldo College, 84-74, and notch its fourth straight win in the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Hubilla, who served a one-year residency after transferring from Mapúa University, erupted for a season-high 26 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. He powered JRU’s second-half surge, scoring 17 of his 26 points after the break.
“Ni-remind lang ako ni Coach Nani [Epondulan] na all the time na maglalaro ako, dapat ready at pag-aatake ako, madiin talaga,” Hubilla said of his breakout performance. “‘Yung mga una naming laro, nawala ‘yung aggressiveness ko. Pinag-isipan ko lang nang mabuti at tinrabaho ko lang kahit sa ensayo na huwag akong mag-petiks kasi pag nape-petiks ako sa ensayo, nadadala namin sa game.”
“Every practice na pinapasok ko, laging aggressive para sa games na ganito, ma-adapt namin,” he added.
With the win, the Bombers remained unbeaten in the crossover round and tied College of Saint Benilde for first place in Group A with a league-best 6-1 record. Meanwhile, the Generals slipped to solo fourth in Group B with a 2-5 slate.
The two teams traded blows in the opening quarter before Lawrence Mangubat sank a buzzer-beating floater to give the Bombers a 22-20 lead heading into the second period.
The Generals threatened to pull away in the second quarter, unleashing a 7-0 run capped by Harvae Raymundo’s free throw to establish an 11-point advantage, 38-27. However, EAC managed just three points the rest of the period, allowing JRU to trim the deficit to six at halftime, 41-35.
The Bombers turned the tide in the third quarter, capitalizing on EAC’s five-minute scoring drought to unleash a 15-2 run punctuated by Hubilla’s layup, giving JRU a 50-43 lead.
JRU continued to pull away in the fourth, as Mangubat’s three-pointer and Ivan Panapanaan’s layup stretched the Bombers’ advantage to 12, 63-51, just a minute into the period.
The Generals struggled to contain JRU down the stretch, with Jahmir Eligado converting a layup to extend the Bombers’ lead to 13 with just over a minute remaining, putting the game out of reach and sealing their fourth consecutive victory.
“’Yung nangyari sa first half, there were open shots pero hindi namin na-co-convert. Luckily, nung second half, with Stephen Garupil and Sean Salvador hitting those wide-open three-point shots, doon nag-open ’yung floor for Hubilla and Mangubat … eventually dumiretso kami at doon na kami lumamang,” Epondulan said.
Mangubat finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Salvador chipped in 11 points, including three triples. Garupil added nine points for the Bombers.
Bagay and Joseph Nunag paced EAC with 17 points apiece, while Wilmar Oftana posted a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
JRU will look to extend its winning streak to five games when it faces Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Thursday, October 15, at 5 p.m. EAC, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back against defending champion San Beda University on Monday, October 19, at 3 p.m.
Both games will be held at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Scores:
Jose Rizal 84 – Hubilla 26, Mangubat 15, Salvador 11, Garupil 9, Eligado 7, Palis 5, Masiglat 4, Laurenaria 3, Garcia 2, Panapanaan 2, Penaverde 0, Herrera 0, Duque 0, Mejia 0.
Emilio Aguinaldo 74 – Bagay 17, Nunag 17, Oftana 14, Castillo 7, H. Raymundo 7, M. Raymundo 6, Shanoda 4, Ochavo 1, Bonus 1, Luna 0, Coronel 0, Lanceta 0, Baniqued 0, Sealey 0.
Quarterscores: 22-20, 35-41, 58-51, 84-74.
