JRU bombs Mapua for 3rd place after NCAA first round

JRU bombs Mapua for 3^rd place after NCAA first round

by rick olivares

The Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers and the Mapua Cardinals had not played in 12 days. Both teams were at 5-2; tied for third place with a game at hand to close out the first round at the San Juan Arena. The two head coaches, Vergel Meneses and Chito Victolero, were concerned about rust. They both agreed that the team that came out with more energy could take the match; a crucial one in the race to the final four.

At the 4:49 mark of the first quarter and the score at 10-6 in favor of the Cardinals, the Heavy Bombers’ second unit of Marvin Hayes, Joe Etame, Jay-R Bulangis, Jeckster Apinan, and Nate Matute entered the game.

Hayes knocked away the ball from Macky Acosta who collared a defensive board. Picking up the loose ball, he shot it, missed it, pick up the offensive carom and put it back in. As soon as Mapua got the ball back, he promptly picked it clean off Allan Mangahas and fed Bulangis for a lay-up.

By the time JRU’s second unit was done, they were up at the half 27-24. They picked apart Mapua’s zone with passing the ball around and stretching the Cardinal’s defense. Although the Cardinals briefly regained the lead at the start of the third quarter after Jonathan Banal’s two free throws, JRU’s starters fed off their second unit’s energy to hold Mapua to two points in the final seven minutes of the third quarter to take a 43-33. It was a lead they would not relinquish as the Heavy Bombers held on for a 61-54 win to take sole possession of third place in the NCAA 86 rankings. Mapua fell to 5-3 for fourth place.

Hayes, JRU’s captain and in his final playing year, paced his squad with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block against 1 turnover. Teammates Alex Almario and Raycon Kabigting also added 12 points apiece.

In the pre-season, Hayes was oft benched during the Fil Oil tournament. “Bago yung sistema ni coach (Vergel Meneses) at nahihirapan ako naglalaro sa PBL at Fil Oil ng sabay.” related the veteran forward who was named twice to the NCAA’s Mythical Five in 2007 and 2008. “Alam ko naman pagdating ng NCAA sa akin din naman babagsak yung responsibilidad. Mas gusto ko yun.”

Mapua’s Jason Pascual led his team with 13 points while Allan Mangahas added 12.