Rey Joey Barcuma was unstoppable down the stretch as University of Perpetual Help System DALTA played a spoiler’s role to eliminate Jose Rizal University, 72-60, from contention in NCAA Season 98 on Sunday.
The pint-sized guard came alive in the fourth, scoring three points and dishing out an assist led for a Carlo Ferreras layup, 61-54. Barcuma then notched back-to-back buckets for a 67-57 lead before Jef Egan fired the closing triple off another Barcuma assist.
Barcuma finished with 13 points, with seven of those coming in the fourth period.
Egan led the way with 14 points and eight assists while Carlo Ferreras scored 14 of his own as well.
Perpetual, who already got eliminated yesterday, still hiked its standing to 7-9 while JRU was also booted out after dropping to 6-9.
With eight players returning from their one-game suspensions, JRU was able to take control of the game early, leading most of the time en route to a 30-25 halftime cushion.
No players reached double digit marks after the first two quarters as the Heavy Bombers saw balanced scoring from usual gunners in Jason Celis, Marwin Dionisio, and Joshua Guiab.
The ALTAs, who were missing Jielo Razon, then ignited in the third with Jun Roque, JP Boral, and Carlo Ferreras fueling a 27-11 opening rampage.
But the Heavy Bombers retaliated with a 9-0 run of their own to end the penultimate period trailing by just two, 52-50.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
