NCAA: Mangubat finds form as JRU’s fourth-quarter surge edges Mapua

Jose Rizal University gunner Lawrence Mangubat against Mapua University in NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball. NCAA Philippines.MANILA — Lawrence Mangubat rediscovered his form as Jose Rizal University leaned on its fourth-quarter surge to edge Mapua University, 71-58, in NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball on Tuesday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.

Mangubat was solid on both ends with 19 points, six rebounds, and two steals as the Heavy Bombers limited the Cardinals to eight points on 2-of-15 shooting in the final canto before leading by as many as 16.

“We stuck to our players na tingin naming makakagawa, especially on defense,” said JRU head coach Nani Epondulan, as they kept Mapua without a field goal for over five minutes in the fourth. “Iniksian talaga namin yung rotation namin nung fourth, and luckily, sabay pumutok yung defense and offense namin.”

Jhillian Palis finished with 15 points, Sean Salvador added 11 markers, while Jamhir Eligao listed 10 points and eight rebounds for JRU, which zoomed to its ninth win in 12 games to secure its spot in the quarterfinals.

The Heavy Bombers will hope to secure a top-two spot and a twice-to-beat incentive in the playoffs when they face College of Saint Benilde on Friday, November 6, at the same San Juan-based arena.

There, JRU will hope to replicate its intensity on both ends of the floor, especially in the last grame.

Tied at 50, the Heavy Bombers went on a 13-to-2 surge for a 63-52 lead following an Eligao basket at the 5:23 mark.

Andrei Igliane and Ken Dones kept Mapua within striking distance, 65-55, with the latter’s layup at the 4:18 mark, but Eligao and Palis held fort for JRU and kept the lead in double digits to shut the door on Mapua.

With the loss, Mapua will now be relegated to the play-in round, where the Cardinals will face Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Chito Victolero’s troops still have a chance to avoid the twice-to-win disadvantage and the fifth seed in Group A, but they will have to defeat the Pirates on Monday, November 9, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

JRU 71 — Mangubat 19, Palis 15, Salvador 11, Eligado 10, Laurenaria 7, Panapanaan 4, Herrera 3, Duque 2, Peñaverde 0, Garcia 0, Castillo 0, Garupil 0, Masiglat 0.

Mapua 58 — Concepcion 11, Igliane 11, Cuenco 11, Diaz 11, Dones 9, L. Nitura 4, Lazarte 1, Razon 0, Reyes 0, Liwanag 0, Mendoza 0.

Quarterscores: 15-19, 30-29, 50-50, 71-58.