THE JOSE Rizal University Heavy Bombers made their debut in dominant fashion as they trounced last year’s runners-up, the Arellano University Chiefs, 78-61, in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Saturday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Showing the kind of firepower that made them a huge success in several preseason tournaments, the Heavy Bombers led for most of the game and cruised to the easy win in the second half. Cameroonian bigman Abdoul Poutouochi led the team of head coach Vergel Meneses with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Tey Teodoro added 11 points though he missed all eight of his attempts from rainbow country.
The Heavy Bombers started to pull away in the second canto where they outscored Arellano U, 19-9, to turn a 19-all game into a 40-28 halftime lead.
Kent Salado paced the Chiefs with 15 while Dioncee Holts pitched in 11. However, star guard Jiovani Jalalon, a member of last year’s Mythical Five team, managed just four points and was clearly bothered by a bum shoulder, an injury he suffered during his stint with the Gilas Cadets in the Southeast Asian Games.
The scores:
JRU (78)—Poutouochi 23, Teodoro 11, Abdul Wahab 9, Lasquety 8, Sanchez 7, Dela Paz 6, Grospe 6, Pontejos 4, Aurin 2, Astilla 0, Balagtas 0, Dela Virgen 0.
Arellano (61)—Salado 15, Holts 11, Enriquez 10, Cadavis 8, Bangga 5, Gumaru 5, Jalalon 4, Nicholls 3, Meca 0, Ongolo-Ongolo 0, Ortega 0, De Guzman 0, Zamora 0, Tano 0.
Quarterscores: 19-19; 40-28; 66-41; 78-61.
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