Jose Rizal University survived Mapua with a nail-biting win in overtime, 67-64, in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament Friday, Sept. 30, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Heavy Bombers made up for their fourth quarter slump and went all-out in the extra period as Marwin Dionisio provided that much-needed spark and finished with 15 points on a 5-of-7 shooting along with four rebounds.
But it was Joshua Guiab who led all scorers with 17 points to go with 10 rebounds while Agem Miranda chipped in 13 points and four rebounds to help JRU improve at 3-2 record.
"We really need to grind it out. Again, napakalaking learning ng game, especially sa mga starters ko," said JRU head Louie Gonzales. "In the middle of the game, it was my second group that was helping the team. Heto 'yong mga game na kailangan ko... I don't want to sacrifice but then again, kailangan ko 'yong sitwasyon to toughen up 'yong starters namin, 'yong mga leaders ng team ko.
"With us right now, we cannot underestimate . Kung ano 'yong ginagawa namin, 'yong mga maliliit na detalye kasi mahihirapan kami," he added.
The Bombers negated the heroics of Adrian Nocum, who forced the game to overtime with a game-tying layup in the payoff period, while Dionisio and Miranda connived for the offense in the extension and the rest of the squad clamping down on their defense to arrest any possible comeback.
JRU gained momentum first in overtime, unloading a 7-2 run capped by Dionisio's free throws with already 1:35 remaining, 67-62, before Nocum converted another basket for Mapua to put the game within three only.
The Bombers actually committed a shot clock violation with 41.2 remaining, but the Cardinals just couldn't convert on the clutch as Nocum missed a corner trey with 23 ticks left.
Two free throw misses from John Amores once again pumped life for Mapua but Carl Lacap, who paced the Cardinals with 13 points and six rebounds, missed another potential game-tying three-pointer with 4.5 seconds to go.
A last-second attempt from Juaqui Garcia from beyond the arc, forcing the shot from the right wing with all desperation, couldn't make it as well as the ball went off the glass but rattled out of the basket.
Warren Bonifacio and Nocum had nine and eight points each and combined for 23 rebounds for the Cardinals, who slipped to a 1-4 hole.
The Scores:
JRU 67 -- Guiab 17, Dionisio 15, Miranda 13, Sy 8, Gonzales 8, Amores 2, Celis 2, Medina 2, Delos Santos 0, Arenal 0, Dela Rosa 0, Villarin 0, Joson 0.
MAPUA 64 -- Lacap 13, Bonifacio 9, Nocum 8, Gamboa 7, Hernandez 6, Garcia 6, Pido 5, Agustin 5, Soriano 3, Salenga 2, Igliane 0, Parinas 0.
Quarters: 19-14, 36-36, 50-47, 60-60, 67-64.