JRU defies odds for 8th win; Cardinals in a heart-stopping come-from-behind win over Letran

Jose Rizal leaned on another explosive performance by Nate Matute as it turned back
an undermanned Perpetual Help side, 66-55, wednesday to remain at third place in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Riding the crest of a career best 22-point effort in a 76-60 win over the Letran Knights Friday including 15 from behind the arc, Matute fired all his 15 points from the three-point area as the Bombers nailed their eighth win in 10 starts.

It also pushed the Kalentong-based school closer to pace-setting San Beda (9-0) and defending champion San Sebastian (8-2).

Raycon Kabigting scattered 12 points while Alex Almario chipped in 10 to make up for the absence of Ildegonso Bulangis (tonsillitis) and John Njei (disciplinary action).

But it was a win Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses had a hard time relishing after his team turned the ball 30 times allowing 31 of it and Perpetual Help to stay in the game.

"We're throwing the ball a lot of times, it will be hard winning if we keep on doing it," said Meneses, who is gearing for an interesting showdown with the Stags on Sept. 1.

George Allen and Jet Vidal, both Philippine Christian U transferees, paced the Altas with 14 points apiece but the Las Pinas-based school severely Arnold Danganan, its leading scorer with an average of 14.6 a game but sat out this one due to a one-game suspension slapped on him for a pair flagrant fouls in a losing cause to St. Benilde.

Perpetual Help thus fell to its ninth straight defeat in as many outings.

In juniors' action, Perpetual Help drew strength from the 26-point effort of RP youth standout Joshua Alolino as it turned back a pesky Jose Rizal side, 86-69, to remain at second place with a 7-2 card behind San Beda (8-1).



Letran, for its part, stretched its amazing streak to seven with an 86-74 triumph over Mapua to improve to 7-3, which is good for solo third spot.

The Light Bombers and the Red Robins fell to 6-4 and 5-5 cards, respectively.

Mapua went to Erwin Cornejo and Mark Acosta in the fourth quarter as it clawed back from 16 points down to eke out 63-60 squeaker over Letran to put a full two-game distance ahead of No. 5 Arellano U (4-5) in the race for the Final Four berth.

Cornejo erupted for 11 of his game-high 18 points while Acosta poured in seven of his 11 in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals nailed their sixth win against four losses.

Acosta shone the brightest as he buried a booming triple and canned a pair of charities all in the final 15.4 seconds to cap Mapua�s amazing fight back in the duel between Intramuros neighbors.

"It was a sweet win but it was tough, the boys just didn�t give up," said Mapua coach Chito Victolero.

The Knights sent the idle Chiefs aback the Cardinals while dealing the former the most painful blow since they will fall back even further as they fell to 3-7.

The Scores:
Jose Rizal 66- Matute 15, Kabigting 12, Almario 10, Montemayor 10, Etame 7, Apinan 7, J. Lopez 3, Hayes 2, Duncil 0, Badua 0, M. Lopez 0
Perpetual Help 55- Vidal 14, Allen 14, Ynion 8, Arboleda 7, Alano 7, Jolangcob 3, Asuncion 2, Kintanar 0, Elopre 0
Quarterscores: 16-11; 27-28; 48-43; 66-55


Mapua 63- Cornejo 18, Guillermo 11, Acosta 11, Pascual 5, Ighalo 4, Sarangay 4, Mangahas 4, Stevens 3, Banal 3, Layug 0, Maniego 0, Ranises 0
Letran 60- Ke. Alas 13, Dysam 10, Belencion 9, Kr. Alas 9, Taplah 8, Cortes 6, Espiritu 3, Almazan 2, Belorio 0
Quarterscores: 13-20; 22-36; 37-48; 63-60