Allan Laurenaria comes to the rescue as JRU escapes Perpetual in OT

Allan Laurenaria saved Jose Rizal University from a big loss after preserving a 72-70 overtime win in the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

The do-it-all guard scattered 20 points, including the game-winning putback basket in the final 1.5 seconds, while also grabbing six rebounds, four steals, and three assists as the Heavy Bombers improved to 7-2 in Group A.

Chris Hubilla was also clutch to finish with a double-double of 15 markers and 17 boards while Yuri Duque stepped up amid Lawrence Mangubat's scoring woes by chipping in nine points off the bench.

With the game tied at 47-all heading into the fourth, the ALTAs came out firing with a 9-0 run capped by a Mark Gojo Cruz basket to seize a comfortable 56-47 lead.

But the Heavy Bombers showed their trademark clutch play.

Mangubat, scoreless throughout the first 37 minutes of action, scored his first field goal before knocking down a triple to pull JRU within four, 62-58.

And then Laurenaria took over. The former Mapua Red Robins star scored five straight points before issuing the pass that led to a Hubilla layup to drag the ALTAs to an overtime.

The 6-foot-1 Laurenaria also shone on defense, forcing a turnover that he converted into a layup to send the Heavy Bombers to a 69-67 cushion in the final 33 seconds. The ALTAs would tie things up anew off an LA Casinillo three-pointer in the next possession, but Laurenaria secured the offensive rebound from a missed jumper from Mangubat to sink the game-winning shot.

Gelo Gelsano paced Perpetual by flirting with a double-double showing of 18 points and nine rebounds while Casinillo churned out 12 markers, 10 boards, and six assists.

—JMB, GMA News