Filoil: JRU rides Harry Herrera's double-double outing vs. LPU to end five-game slide

Harry Herrera delivered his finest performance yet in a Jose Rizal University jersey, spearheading the Heavy Bombers’ 71-64 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Monday.

The former San Sebastian Staglet exploded for 21 points and 11 rebounds, powering JRU to snap a five-game losing skid and improve to 2-5. The Pirates, meanwhile, slid further down the standings with a 1-4 record.

However, the win didn’t come easy for the Heavy Bombers.

Veteran guard Shawn Argente escaped two defenders for a layup that sent JRU to its biggest lead at 69-54 with 2:48 left in the payoff period.

But the Pirates made it a dogfight after mounting a desperate comeback attempt that saw them pulling within five points, thanks to a 10-0 blast led by John Barba. The graduating Barba, scoreless almost the entire game, converted all of his five points in that stretch for a 69-64 deficit in the last five seconds.

Argente saved the day for JRU, sinking a pair of free throws to seal it for the embattled Heavy Bombers.

Argente finished with 19 points and two assists off the bench while Jay Garupil chipped in nine markers, seven dimes, three rebounds, and two steals.

Joshua Moralejo paced the Pirates with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists while Simon Peñafiel churned out nine markers.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News