Will Gozum and Miggy Corteza connived to steer De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to a heated overtime victory against Jose Rizal University, 93-85, in NCAA Season 99 on Friday.
Gozum opened the extra period with four straight baskets as Benilde took a crucial 79-77 lead before Migs Oczon went for a jumper.
Things started to heat up when Mark Sangco and Vince Sarmiento got tangled up in the final 2:14 that led to eventual ejection of JL Delos Santos.
However, Miggy Corteza drilled a huge corner triple off a pass from Robi Nayve for a pivotal 89-81 cushion with 33.4 ticks left.
Benilde bounced back from previous loss to improve to 1-1 while JRU dropped to a similar 1-1 slate.
Agem Miranda caught fire early, dropping 18 points in the first half alone to surpass his 17-point outing in the previous game as the Heavy Bombers took a slim 44-50 halftime lead.
Miranda nailed another triple to give JRU a 54-47 lead in the third but that wasn’t enough to pull the Bombers away for good as both teams headed to the fourth knotted at 63-all.
Sarmiento opened the payoff period with back-to-back baskets for a 67-64 lead before Nayve tied it again at 71-all.
Nayve again hit a clutch layup for a 73-71 cushion before Will Gozum hit a pair of freebies then came up with a huge block on Sarmiento, 75-73.
Miranda, who has been hot all game long, hit a dagger jumper for another deadlock in the final 1:23 but neither team can bury another basket to force an overtime.
Corteza registered 21 points while Gozum posted a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Miranda had a game-high 31 points, the only double-digit scorer for the Heavy Bombers.
Benilde will face San Beda University, while JRU will go against Mapua University on Sunday.
Scores:
Benilde 93- Corteza 21, Gozum 18, Nayve 16, Carlos 12, Oczon 11, Sangco 6, Turco 4, Jarque 3, Mara 2, Cajucom 0, Marcos 0, Marasigan 0, Arciaga 0, Flores 0.
JRU 85- Miranda 31, delos Santos 8, Sarmiento 8, Pabico 8, Guiab 8, Medina 6, Argente 6, Dionisio 5, Ramos 5, de Leon 0, Arenal 0, Barrera 0, Sy 0, Mosqueda 0.
Quarterscores: 17-18; 40-44; 63-63; 75-75 (OT); 93-85.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
