Jose Rizal University averted a fourth-quarter meltdown and fended off the gritty San Beda, 83-80, in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Heavy Bombers, despite leading by as many as 20 points earlier in the game, had to fight for dear life against the Red Lions who came alive in the second half behind the efforts of JB Bahio, Gab Cometa, and James Kwekuteye.
While Agem Miranda led all scorers with 21 points and three assists, Cometa proved to be a thorn on JRU's side as he almost single-handedly lifted San Beda in the last five minutes of the payoff period.
"We know for a fact na may winning culture 'yong team na yon (San Beda). A 20-point lead in the middle of the game, 'pag ganyang team ang kalaban mo, hindi 'yon magma-matter 'til matapos," said Bombers head coach Louie Gonzales. "So ang challenge ko talaga sa mga players ko, sa mga past games namin, ang binabantayan talaga namin ay 'yong, 'Are we doing what we were supposed to do when we're playing? Ito ba 'yong JRU basketball na nakikita natin?'
"And it's been proven when we're playing together, 'yong mga lahat ng bagay nagiging positive sa amin. Pero once na mag-isip na kami na magsasarili na kami, 'di na kami magtutulungan, ayon 'yong nagkakaroon ng nakakahabol 'yong kalaban," he added.
Just when the Bombers are slowly getting their lead back, courtesy of a Joshua Guiab three-pointer with 3:15 left, 80-72, Cometa sparked the Lions' mini 5-1 run capped by a trey of his own in the ensuing plays.
Miranda, in the next possession, split his free throw before Bahio scored a putback and Kwekuteye also shot one free throw as well to put the match within striking distance, 82-80, in the final minute.
The Lions have all the time in their hands, with plenty of 26 seconds left, but Bahio missed a costly drive off a Cometa bounce pass. The same goes for Kwekuteye who couldn't deliver in the clutch when he was also contested zooming in the lane off an inbound play.
Those two possessions could have been San Beda's trump cards in the end game but JRU had the last laugh as both teams now shared twin 4-2 records.
Guiab, who had 14 points and nine rebounds, iced the game after a split free throw with 4.1 seconds left, 83-80, before William Sy secured the rebound and threw the ball up high as the time expired.
John Amores finished with 19 points while Marwin Dionisio also contributed 16 points on a 6-of-9 shooting along with four rebounds for the Bombers.
Bahio paced the Lions with a double-double performance of 19 points and 10 rebounds, Cometa chalked up 15 points, while Kwekuteye and Winston Ynot had 14 and 12 points each and four rebounds apiece.
The Scores:
JRU 83 -- Miranda 21, Amores 19, Dionisio 16, Guiab 14, Dela Rosa 6, Sy 4, Gonzales 2, Celis 1, Delos Santos 0, Arenal 0, Villarin 0.
SAN BEDA 80 -- Bahio 19, Cometa 15, Kwekuteye 14, Ynot 12, Andrada 6, Alfaro 4, Cortez 4, Sanchez 3, Visser 2, Tagala 1, Cuntapay 0, Jopia 0.
Quarters: 24-16, 49-33, 66-58, 83-80.