Embattled Jose Rizal University capped off what has been a tumultuous NCAA Season 98 campaign, denying Colegio de San Juan de Letran a top-seed finish with an 87-71 victory on Wednesday.
Ry Dela Rosa scored a game-high 22 points for the Heavy Bombers while Marwin Dionisio added 16 markers on 7-for-10 shooting from the field. Joshua Guiab also contributed big in the win with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four steals.
JRU, which was carrying a six-game losing streak prior to the game, will end its campaign with a 7-11 card.
Letran, meanwhile, won’t finish at #1 after dropping to 13-5 but is still assured of a playoffs incentive ahead of its Final Four collision with third-seed Lyceum of the Philippines University. De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will instead take the top spot with a 14-4 card.
Dela Rosa started it all out for JRU, unleashing four triples to finish with 14 points at the half where the Heavy Bombers held a 48-38 lead.
But the Knights chopped down their deficit to six in the third, 51-45, before Dionisio ignited for nine points, including a buzzer-beater triple as JRU built a 14-point lead, 66-52, into the fourth.
Knights’ young guns Kevin Santos and Kobe Monje then instigated a mini-run for Letran as they pulled to within six anew, 75-69, with 3:46 left.
But that was the closest they could get as JRU mounted a 12-2 closing run led by Dionisio and Dela Rosa.
Five Heavy Bombers finished in double figure scoring with JL Delos Santos and Agem Miranda also chipping in with 11 points apiece.
Letran was led by King Caralipio's 15 markers while Brent Paraiso and Fran Yu added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
The scores:
JRU 87 - Dela Rosa 22, Dionisio 16, Guiab 14, Delos Santos 11, Miranda 11, Medina 7, Arenal 2, Abaoag 2, Celis 2, De Jesus 0, Tan 0.
Letran 71 - Caralipio 15, Paraiso 12, Yu 10, Sangalang 7, Monje 7, Tolentino 7, Javillonar 5, Santos 4, Ariar 4, Olivarion 0, Miclat 0, Reyson 0, Guarinio 0, Lantaya 0, Bautista 0.
Quarters: 21-15, 48-38, 66-52, 87-71.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
