It took a while, but the backcourt tandem of Teytey Teodoro and Paolo Pontejos have found perfect symphony.
The Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, after a two-game funk, registered their first win in the NCAA Season 92 Seniors Basketball Tournament with an 86-56 blowout win against the listless College of Saint Benilde Blazers, Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Tey Teodoro was the instigator of JRU’s wire-to-wire win. JRU’s gunslinger knocked down three triples in the first quarter alone to the tune of 13 points during that frame. Moreover, the defense of the Heavy Bombers limited the hapless Blazers to just six first quarter points.
Teodoro finished with 15 markers.
“Siguro na-challenge sila sa kung ano ang sinabi ko sa kanila,” said JRU head coach Vergel Meneses. “Sinabi ko lahat halos ng mga basketball aficionados, mga critics, talagang [sinasabi] walang disiplina at yung pride wala dun.”
The Heavy Bombers did not look back the entire game, as the Shaw Boulevard cagers surged to a 36-22 halftime lead.
After scoring seven points in the third canto, Paolo Pontejos, who had been scoreless in their last game against Perpetual, displayed an array of jumpshots and breakaway layups to score 11 points in the first five minutes of the final frame to gain a 74-44 lead.
“Baka maganda ang gising,” Meneses quipped. “Well siguro gusto lang mabanlawan naman. Buong week siya talaga ang nakikita ko kasi hindi ‘yan yung Paolo na naglaro last year sa akin eh, di ba? Kanina talagang nag-step up siya.”
“Maganda lang yung nanalo na kami kesa mag end up sa 0-3,” said Pontejos, who led JRU with 23 points on 9-for-16 shooting. “Sana magtuloy-tuloy.”
JJ Domingo led the Blazers with 21 points, while Kendrix Belgica added 11 markers for the Blazers.
The Heavy Bombers shot an oustanding 50.92 percent from the field compared to just 37.5 percent from the hapless Blazers.
The Heavy Bombers (1-2) look to build on this win as they face the Lyceum Pirates (0-3) on Friday, July 15 at 4:00pm. The Blazers (0-4) will have a tough next assignment as they take on the San Beda Red Lions (3-0)
The Scores:
JRU (86) – Pontejos 23, Teodoro 15, Poutuouchi 15, Abdulrazak 8, Evardo 6, Dela Paz 5, Lasquety 4, Mendoza 4, Dada 3, Astilla 2, Caballero 2, Cruz 2, Grospe 2, Dela Virgen 0.
CSB (56) – Domingo JJ 21, Belgica 11, Leutcheu 8, Dixon 4, Castro 3, Pajarillaga 2, Sta. Maria 2, Domingo JS 0, Pasamante 0, Saavedra 0, San Juan 0, Young 0.
Quarterscores: 22-6, 36-22, 57-34, 86-56.
