After an up and down start to their season, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers finally picked up their first winning streak for the 93rd Season of the NCAA, dismantling the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 81-53, Friday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The win lifted JRU’s record to 4-3 with two games remaining in their first round calendar, while Saint Benilde dropped to 2-6.
“Sa wakas naka-back-to-back wins na rin,” said JRU head coach Vergel Meneses. “We displayed the same intensity today like our last game against EAC. The players displayed good decision making.”
Four student-athletes finished in double-figures for the Heavy Bombers, with Ervin Grospe leading the way with 14 points. Teytey Teodoro bounced back from a string of bad outings as well with 13 markers, while Jed Mendoza and Abdul Sawat finished with 12 and 10 markers respectively.
Spreading the wealth has been something Meneses has been preaching to his ace guard Teodoro.
“He’s struggling. Tingin ko kailangan ko bigyan ng chance yung iba na maganda ang nagyayari sa team. Nakikita ngayon yung talent nila Grospe at Mendoza,” Meneses admitted. “He has to make his teammates better.”
And JRU methodotically dismantled the Blazers on all fronts, shooting at a high clip, 46 percent from the field, while locking Benilde down to just a 25 percent shooting clip.
Moreover, the Heavy Bombers greatly out-rebounded the Blazers, 52-37, while displaying better ball movement by assisting on 22 of their 29 field goals.
Abdulwahab Abdulrazak gobbled down 18 rebounds, while playing-assistant coach Gio Lasquety grabbed seven rebounds and dished out seven dimes to glue things together for JRU.
The game was already over by the second frame, as JRU limited Benilde to just seven points during that frame to gain a 38-19 lead at the half. JRU’s lead would go to as high as 31 points late in the final frame before settling for a 28-point win.
“Tingin ko consistency lang. Pag meron silang hustle at energy, it’s easy for us to get a basket. It will be hard for us if we play sluggish,” the PBA legend shared.
Carlo Young led Saint Benilde with 14 points, while Edward Dixon had 13 markers. Every Blazer fielded in netted a negative plus-minus rating.
JRU will go on the road on Thursday, August 24, against the San Sebastian Stags. CSB, on the other hand, face the Arellano Chiefs on Tuesday, August 22, at 12:00nn.
The Scores:
JRU 81 – Grospe 14, Teodoro 13, Mendoza 12, Sawat 10, Dela Virgen 8, Poutouochi 7, Bordon 6, Abdul Razak 6, Lasquety 3, David 2, Mate 0, Sibangan 0, Castor 0
CSB 53 – Young 14, Dixon 13, Sta. Maria 8, Naboa 6, Leutcheu 4, Johnson 4, San Juan 2, Castor 1, Pili 1, Velasco 0, Bunyi 0, Suarez 0
Quarterscores: 17-12, 38-19, 70-44, 81-53
