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THE HEAVY Bombers of Jose Rizal University are definitely for real.

JRU continued its winning run by pulling off a resounding 76-72 win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 84th NCAA men’s basketball tournament last August 15, 2008 at The Arena in San Juan City.

Coach Ariel Vanguardia’s plan to shut down Knights sniper RJ Jazul helped the Bombers clinch their eighth straight win. “We tried our best to contain him as well as other Knights like Dino Daa, but our defense on Jazul truned out to be effective,� said Vanguardia.

The sweet-shooting guard from Pasay City scored only four points on 1-of-15 shooting from the field.

Slotman JR Sena had 19 points and nine rebounds, while Season 83 Mythical Five team member Marvin Hayes scored 11 and grabbed 13 boards to outplay Letran’s frontline in the pivotal fourth quarter to complete the come-from-behind win.

“We could not find anything in the first half but we found ourselves back in it in the second half,� said Vanguardia. “It was the breaks of the game and we made crucial stops down the stretch.�

Kojack Melegrito, who led Letran with a game-high 24 points, including a 7-of-9 clip from three-point area, hit a triple to mark Letran’s biggest advantage at 36-23 with 6:16 left in the second period.

But JRU countered with a 25-11 attack in the third quarter. Sena and Hayes made a basket each to give the Heavy Bombers a 48-47 lead – one that they never relinquished – with 3:31 to go.

“Maybe we already know how to play with a big heart,� said Sena. “It is really tough playing against a team like Letran, so I’m glad we passed the challenge.�

The game remained close in the fourth quarter as both teams exchanged baskets. The Knights tied the count at 72-all, with Daa converting two free throws with 54.8 seconds remaining.

Playmaker Marc Cagoco, who had 16 points, then sank four free throws in the final minute to seal the game.

Jazul, meanwhile, committed a crucial endgame blunder after committing a five-second violation while attempting to play the ball inbounds with 12.1 seconds, effectively costing the Knights the game.

JRU, with the win, replaced Letran on top of the team standings with an 8-2 slate and avenged its opening-day 83-69 defeat. The Knights, meanwhile, dropped to second with a 7-2 card.

Key for the Heavy Bombers was committing not a single turnover in the second half, in stark contrast to the 21 they churned out in the opening half.

Individual Scores:

JRU 76 – Sena 19, Cagoco 16, Hayes 11, Wilson 10, Agas 5, Bulangis 4, Nocom 4, Njei 4, Pradas 3, Kabigting 0, Montemayor 0.

Letran 72 – Melegrito 24, Daa 18, Guevarra 18, Latonio 4, Jazul 4, Cabonce 2, Cortes 2, Dangcal 0, J. Foronda 0, del Rosario 0.

Quarter Scores: 19-25; 34-41; 53-52; 76-72

Tags: Jose-Rizal-University-Heavy-Bombers, Letran-Knights, NCAA-Season-84, Petron, RJ-Jazul

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