JRU ended Mapua's season, arranged 3rd showdown with the Stags

Jose Rizal relied heavily on the unlikely pair of Cameroonian Joe Etame and Marvin Hayes in the fourth quarter as it turned back a stubborn Mapua, 60-54, yesterday to forge another knockout duel for the other finals berth in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The 6-7 Etame poured in 15 of his NCAA best 17 points in the second half including 10 in the final period when he teamed up with the veteran Hayes in delivering the telling blows and sending the Bombers in another do-or-die match with the San Sebastian Stags tomorrow.

“He played big for us, he and Marvin Hayes, our veteran guy,” said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses referring to Etame.

The Bombers had a hard time taking the fight out of the Cardinals and needed to outlast the former with a bruising half court game anchored on Etame and Hayes.

Alex Almario, Jose Rizal’s point guard of the future, chipped in 10 points including a pair of foul shots in the stretch that iced it for the Kalentong-based school.

Erwin Cornejo paced the Cardinals, who wound up No. 4 seed with a 9-7 card, with 16 points while TG Guillermo fired 13 points in their farewell game. Mark Acosta went bust in his last outing as he managed only two points.

Up by just a hairline, 37-36, Etame closed out the third canto with a five-point barrage to forge a 42-all deadlock and then continued the momentum in the final quarter with a slew of points off post moves.

But Mapua didn’t waver as it kept it close at 49-50 early in the last canto before Hayes, drafted by Alaska Milk this year, came through with back-to-back baskets that Etame followed up with a basket and two free throws that sealed it.

Etame said he is dedicating this win to the school.

“Coach (Meneses) told me to play not for him and the players but also for the school and I thank him for keeping the faith on me,” said Etame.

The winner of the San Sebastian-Jose Rizal duel, set at 2 p.m. tomorrow, would play San Beda in a best-of-five championship showdown where the Lions would enjoy an early 1-0 edge for sweeping the elimination round in 16 games.

Jose Rizal thus completed a season sweep of Mapua, a team the former beat three times this year.

The scores:

Jose Rizal 60- Etame 17, Almario 10, Hayes 8, Lopez 7, Njei 4, Matute 4, Kabigting 4, Badua 2, Apinan 2, Montemayor 2, Bulangis 0
Mapua 54- Cornejo 16, Guillermo 13, Banal 11, Mangahas 6, Sarangay 2, Pascual 2, Parala 2, Acosta 2, Ighalo 0
Quarterscores: 19-13; 32-30; 42-42; 60-57