NCAA: Bombers boost Final Four chances, drub short-handed Blazers

Jose Rizal University followed up its big win over defending champion San Beda College last week with a 78-63 victory over College of Saint Benilde Monday to further boost its Final Four hopes in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Heavy Bombers extended their winning streak to three games to improve their record to 6-9 tying Lyceum for the fifth spot but are now half a game behind fourth place Mapua (6-8). JRU rode on Jeckster Apinan’s 17-point, 10-rebound, three-steal effort to beat the Blazers, who played without Carlo Lastimosa and Paolo Romero for the first time this season. Lastimosa withdrew from the team while Romero has migrated abroad with his parents. “We are not thinking about the Final Four or any other teams who are chasing the Final Four spot. We are the ones who are writing our destiny. It’s up to us," said JRU coach Vergel Meneses. Without Lastimosa, who unleashed 30 points against JRU in their first round, and Romero, the Heavy Bombers unleashed a 12-2 run in the third period to pull away for a 55-41 lead. Nate Matute’s back-to-back triple in the fourth increased the lead to its biggest at 74-56 with seven and a half minutes left in the game. Raycon Kabigting had 14 points while Matute added 11 markers. John Lopez had 10 points and nine rebounds for JRU. CSB’s Paolo Taha had 14 points, Michael Pate had 13, Jonathan Grey had 12 and Jan Tan added 10 but that had little effect against JRU. “We are not a talented team but our defense is our best offense," said Meneses. "It would have been better if we beat CSB with Carlo Lastimosa because we know that he can really take charge but it's still a big win for us." -- Reubern Terrado/OMG, GMA News The scores: JRU 78—Apinan 17, Kabigting 14, Matute 11, Lopez 10, Villarias 9, Almario 7, Paniamogan 4, Montemayor 4, Monserat 2, Mendoza 0. CSB 63—Taha 14, Pate 13, Grey 12, Tan 10, Altamirano 4, McCoy 4, Dela Paz 4, Sinco 2, Musngi 0, Deles 0, De Guzman 0, Carlos 0, Nayve 0. Quarters: 20-22, 40-35, 66-52, 78-63. Team standings W-L San Sebastian 15-0 Letran 11-2 San Beda 10-2 Mapua 6-8 JRU 6-9 Lyceum 6-9 CSB 5-9 Arellano 5-10 EAC 4-10 Perpetual Help 3-12