JRU bombs CSB for first Filoil win

JRU bombs CSB for first Filoil win

by rick olivares pic by brosi gonzales

May 4, 2013

Filoil Flying V San Juan Arena

The College of Saint Benilde Blazers lost their double-digit lead, their two centers, and eventually, control of the game as the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers racked up their first win of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup, 87-75.

With the score at 36-25 after two free throws by CSB’s Travis Jonson, the Heavy Bombers responded with a triple from Philip Paniamogan and a jumper from point guard Paolo Pontejos to whittle the lead down to 36-30. Feeling the pressure, CSB center Robert Bartolo struck opposite Nick Abanto during a rebound squabble leading to an instant disqualifying foul at the 4:10 mark of the second quarter.

Three minutes later, forward Ralph Deles was ejected for a closed fist foul – once more on Abanto – leaving Benilde with seldom used center Jericho De Guzman to patrol the middle. With the seconds slipping away to end the second period, an unmarked Pontejos hit a buzzer-beating triple to put JRU behind by two, 43-41, as an irate CSB head coach Gabby Velasco admonished his wards to focus.

The halftime talk from head coach Gabby Velasco gave Benilde no respite as opened the period with a turnover. JRU made CSB pay for their poor execution another Pontejos triple that finally gave them the lead, 44-43.

In CSB’s second possession of the second half, they were called for a 24-second shot clock violation, their second of the match and each time with the ball dying in the hands of forward Paolo Taha.

The Heavy Bombers did not relinquish the lead as they outscored a shell shocked Blazers team 28-9 in the third period for a 69-52 lead. In one stretch, CSB failed to get inbound the ball to a Blazer on two successive possessions. The Heavy Bombers scored off their steals on each occasion to make it 57-45.

JRU’s biggest lead was at 17 points, 69-52, with nine seconds left in the third period after a layup by Gio Lasquety off a brilliant cross court pass by Paniamogan.

When CSB’s defense focused too much on Pontejos, swingman Philip Paniamogan rifled in a shot from the perimeter. In what was his best game of the summer, Paniamogan scored 18 points including four three-pointers and dished off five assists.

Mark Romero was the lone bright spot for Benilde as he scored 15 points. Paolo Taha and Luis Sinco came on strong towards the end of the match as they respectively scored 14 and 12 points but it was a little too late JRU cranked up the defense with their bench contributing. The Heavy Bombers’ bench scored 46 points to the starters’ 41 markers with Pontejos top scoring with 22 points.

Paniamogan added 18, Michael Mabulac, 12, and Gio Lasquety 11 in a superb all around effort.

Beilde’s starters scored 53 of their total points and yet didn’t get much production from their bench.

JRU finally barged into the win column with a 1-2 slate while Benilde fell to 0-3.