Ry Dela Rosa buried the biggest basket of the game as he steered Jose Rizal University to a 70-67 squeaker over Arellano University in the NCAA Season 98 on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
With the game tied at 67, Dela Rosa knocked down a booming corner three-pointer off a dish from JL Delos Santos to give the Heavy Bombers a three-point lead with 4.8 seconds left in the game.
With the win, JRU improved to 2-2 while Arellano saw its winning streak snapped at two games as they slipped to 3-2.
Joshua Guiab led JRU with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds while William Sy added 13 - all of them in the Heavy Bombers' remarkable fourth quarter, where they outscored the Chiefs, 25-11.
JL Delos Santos also had a big game, with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Dela Rosa, meanwhile, finished with just four points, including the clutch triple.
Axel Doromal scored 24 points and Shane Menina chipped in with 13 for the Arellano side.
JRU had a hot start as it led by as much as 11, 17-6, after the Heavy Bombers buried four triples. But Axel Doromal unleashed a 9-0 personal run to give Arellano the lead, 18-17, before another bucket from him made it a 36-33 spread.
Arellano went into the halftime break carrying a slim 36-35 lead.
The Chiefs, eager to stretch their streak, stepped on the gas pedal in the third with Joshua Abastillas making it a 55-39 cushion for Arellano. A split from Agem Miranda had JRU trailing by 11 at the end of the frame, 56-45.
But the Heavy Bombers opened the payoff period with a furious 18-0 run led by rookie sensation Willliam Sy, whose huge triple at 5:44 mark handed JRU a much-needed 63-56 lead.
Arellano team captain Kai Oliva gave his side its first field goal as he completed a three-point play, 63-59, with 5:28 left.
Arellano will get its much-needed break before playing De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde next Wednesday while JRU also faces the Blazers on Sunday.
The scores:
JRU 70 - Guiab 17, Sy 13, Dionisio 12, Delos Santos 10, Miranda 7, Dela Rosa 4, Celis 3, Amores 2, Arenal 2, Villarin 0, Joson 0, Medina 0, De Jesus 0.
Arellano 67 - Doromal 24, Menina 13, Flores 8, Mallari 7, Tolentino 7, Olvia 6, Abastillas 2, Punzalan 0, Sunga 0, Oftana 0, Domingo 0.
Quarters: 23-21, 35-36, 45-56, 70-67.
—JMB, GMA News
