Despite having just nine players, Arellano University returned to the win column after stunning Jose Rizal University, 62-52, in the NCAA Season 98 Seniors Basketball Tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre, Sunday in San Juan City.
Arellano only fielded eight players in the game, playing without key players Cade Flores and Shane Menina. Flores was out due to a swollen ankle, while Menina was still recovering from his back pain. He will return on Wednesday when they face Mapua University
With JRU down by 52-56, John Amores committed a shot clock violation with 2:49 left in the game. From there, the Heavy Bombers had several chances to cut the deficit, but none of their shots fell.
However, with 1:26 seconds left in the contest, Axel Doromal delivered an and-one to get the 52-58 cushion. He then missed his bonus free throw.
The Chiefs never looked back after that, going on a 4-0 run capped by a Travis Mantua free throw, 62-52, with 19.7-ticks left in the game.
“Nakakatuwa naman nakikinig sila eh diba. Although, bumaba ‘yung [lamang] six points yata, last two minutes or five. Nakakapasok naman kami, nakakalusot, nakakatira kasi madikit ‘yung depensa ng kalaban. So ‘pag one-on-one okay na,” said Chiefs head coach Cholo Martin.
Arellano had the biggest lead in the third quarter with 12-points, 52-40, when Mantua shot 2-of-2 free throws entering the fourth quarter.
JRU got as close as four points, 52-56, followed by a Delos Santos freebie with 3:03 left in the fourth quarter.
Lars Sunga was assisted out in the game due to an ankle sprain when rebounding the ball inside the paint against JL Delos Santos at the 7:02 mark of the payoff period.
Doromal scored five of his 17 points in the fourth quarter with 7-of-12 two-point shooting from the floor, to go with three rebounds and a steal. Mantua produced 12 markers, four boards, four assists, and three steals.
Danielle Mallari topped the boards with 10 to go with five points.
Amores, who finished a double-double for the Heavy Bombers, all went for naught in 12 points, 13 rebounds, an assist, and a block. Marwin Dionisio topped the rebounding department with 11 to go with nine points.
The Chiefs are now back in the win column with a 6-8 record, while the Heavy Bombers dropped to an even 6-6.
Arellano will look forward to winning again by facing Mapua on Wednesday at 12:00 NN. JRU, on the other hand, will look forward to bouncing back against College of St. Benilde on Tuesday at 3:00 PM.
The Scores:
Arellano 62 — Doromal 17, Mantua 12, Sunga 9, Abastillas 8, Mallari 5, Oliva 5, Talampas 3, Tolentino 3, Oftana 0.
JRU 52 — Amores 12, Dionisio 9, Miranda 8, Guiab 6, Delos Santos 5, Sy 5, Dela Rosa 3, Arenal 2, Celis 2, Medina 0, Tan 0.
Quarterscores: 17-20, 27-28, 53-44, 62-52.
