Jose Rizal University shrugged off a slow start to stop the erstwhile undefeated Mapua University, 70-61, and get back on the winning column of the NCAA Season 99 on Sunday.
The Heavy Bombers, who recently lost to Benilde in overtime, improved to 2-1 while Mapua slid to a similar 2-1 card.
Rookie Patrick Ramos took charge for the Heavy Bombers, flirting with a double-double of 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting and nine rebounds to lead JRU to a bounce back win.
JRU turned what was once an 11-point deficit early to a 48-35 lead in the third frame with Patrick Ramos and JL Delos Santos fueling the Heavy Bombers' rampage.
Delos Santos, whose one-game suspension was withdrawn by the league earlier today, then sank two freebies to give JRU its biggest lead at 16, 53-37, before the Cardinals closed out the penultimate quarter with an 8-0 blitz, 57-50.
Mapua continued to rally in the payoff period as Clint Escamis and JC Recto buried back-to-back three-pointers that cut their deficit to seven, 68-61, with 55 ticks left.
Recto had the chance to further slice the gap but he missed out on his last triple attempt. Ramos then took advantage of Mapua's scrambling defense with a layup in the final 30 seconds as JRU completed the victory.
Agem Miranda also made his presence felt once again for JRU as he churned out 15 points, three rebounds, four assists, four steals, and one block while Marwin Dionisio dropped 11 markers, six boards, and three dimes.
Mapua rookie Escamis poured in another all-around performance of 19 points, four rebounds, four assists, and six steals in the losing effort while Ryle Rosillo chipped in 10 markers and three boards.
Scores:
JRU 70 - Ramos 18, Miranda 15, Dioniso 11, Delos Santos 6, Mosqueda 4, Sarmiento 4, Guiab 3, Sy 3, Medina 2, De Leon 2, Pabico 1, Argente 1, Barrera 0, Arenal 0.
Mapua 61 - Escamis 19, Rosillo 10, Recto 8, Cuenco 7, Bonifacio 6, Soriano 4, Bancale 4, Hernandez 3, Dalisay 0, Fornis 0.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
