MANILA, Philippines - Nate Matute supplied the outside firepower while Jeckster Apinan provided the inside muscle as Jose Rizal U blasted St. Benilde, 73-55, to close in on league pacesetters in the 86th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena, San Juan City yesterday.
The streak-shooting Matute hit 17 points, including five triples, the last two thwarting off the Blazers fourth quarter charge and anchoring the Bombers’ 10th win against three losses.
Apinan also piled up 17 points, complementing well with Matute’s outside game that moved the Bombers edged closer to San Beda (12-0) and San Sebastian (11-1).
Carlo Lastimosa came away with 18 points but failed to get enough support from his teammates as the Blazers absorbed their ninth defeat against four wins.
The loss also damped St. Benilde’s bid for the fourth and last Final Four seat with the Blazers needing to sweep their last four games and hope that the fourth running Mapua (7-5) lose all its four games.
In juniors’ action, Youth Olympic Games veteran Michael Pate exploded for 29 points as La Salle-Greenhills humbled Jose Rizal, 90-72, to improve to 6-7 and remain in the Final Four hunt.
EAC drew 21 points from Vincent Menguito as it turned back Arellano U, 67-60, for only its second win in 13 outings.
Lastimosa scored the game’s first six points to give the Blazers the early lead. But the Bombers overcame their poor start and forced a 23-all count in the second quarter before seizing a 37-24 bulge at the turn.
In the other game, Arellano U beat Emilio Aguinaldo, 71-60, to keep its flickering Final Four hopes alive with a 5-8 slate.
Isiah Ciriacruz paced the Chiefs with 19 points while Jerald Lapuz, Adrian Celada and Vergel Zulueta added 16, 15 and 10 points, respectively.
The Generals fell to their 11th defeat against two wins.