Bombers flatten Generals for lead

MANILA, Philippines - Nate Matute churned out a career-high 30-point effort as Jose Rizal University stormed past Emilio Aguinaldo College, 90-79, to seize the solo lead in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Coming off an impressive 29-point performance against the Arellano Chiefs the last time out, Matute exploded again, scoring almost at will to propel the Bombers to their third straight victory for a rare hold of solo leadership.

“It’s a nice feeling, being the solo leader,” said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses. “It’s early to celebrate but we will cherish the moment because it’s been a while since the school was in this position.”

With Matute dishing out one solid game after the other, the Bombers are halfway through matching JRU’s best start of 6-0 in 2009.

Matute, a 24-year-old guard, had been impressive so far, piling up 75 points after three games, highlighted by a superb 15 of 23 shooting from beyond the arc.

“I’m trying to prove something,” said Matute, a native of Hanford, California, who is planning to join the PBA D-League first after the season before applying for the PBA draft.

The Generals dropped to 1-1.

In the nightcap, undermanned Mapua overcame a sluggish start as it turned back St. Benilde, 64-55, to tie the Generals.

Josan Nimes sizzled with a game-high 21 points while Michael Parala poured in eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals broke out of a tight contest to post the runaway win.

The Blazers fell to their second straight loss after an opening game victory.

The Bombers went on a 17-4 roll in the early going to wrest control with Matute capping the run with a buzzer-beating triple to end the opening quarter at 22-13.

Matute sustained his fiery form in the next period but the Bombers slowed down a bit in the third, enabling the Generals to claw back to within, 59-60, early in the final quarter.

But Michael Mabulac and Ivan Camasura stepped up for JRU and combined for 13 points in the stretch as the Bombers held off the Generals for the victory.

Earlier, St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills held Mapua to just nine points in the fourth quarter to fashion out a 69-49 victory for a 2-1 card while Jose Rizal routed EAC, 85-57, for its first win in three games.

The Red Robins fell to 1-1 while the Brigadiers fell to their second straight defeat.

The scores:

First Game (Jrs)

JRU 85 – Abanto 27, Cortez 16, Marcial 10, Abrew 8, Faundo 8, Garcia 5, Astrero 5, Grande 4, Hilario 2, Lutia 0, Dada 0, Anore 0, Victorino 0, Custodio 0.

EAC 57 – Fandialan 15, Stevens 12, Magtaas 9, Tiano 6, Cabral 5, Urbina 4, Redido 4, Atanacio 2, Perez 0, Crisostomo 0, Piopongco 0, Meana 0.

Quarterscores: 21-11, 44-24, 69-37, 85-57

Second Game (Jrs)

St. Benilde 69 – Bonleon 21, Mercado 13, Yap 9, A. Paras 7, Tesorero 7, Barrera 6, K. Paras 5, Ramilo 1, Aytona 0, Sy 0, Laigo 0, Rangel 0.

Mapua 49 – Guzman 16, Villasenor 8, Cabural 6, Reyes 6, Serrano 5, Perez 3, Coprado 2, Lugo 2, Magpayo 1, Garcia 0, Tolentino 0.

Quarterscores: 13-14, 29-26, 46-40, 69-49

Third Game (Srs)

Jose Rizal 90 – Matute 30, Mabulac 14, Lopez 11, Almario 11, Camasura 9, Villarias 4, dela Paz 4, Carampil 4, Mendoza 2, Monserrat 1, Maconocido 0, Salaveria 0, Porter 0

EAC 79 – Jamon 20, Happi 15, Tayongtong 15, Munsayac 10, Yaya 8, Chiong 6, Morada 3, Sanchez 2, Paguia 0, Monteclaro 0

Quarterscores: 22-13; 44-35; 60-57; 90-79

Fourth Game (Srs)

Mapua 64 – Nimes 21, Parala 12, Estrella 9, Ighalo 8, Chien 5, Abad 4, Cantos 3, Banal 2, Stevens 0

St. Benilde 55 – Lastimosa 13, Ongteco 8, Sinco 7, Tolentino 6, Grey 6, Tan 6, Bartolo 4, Taha 4, Carlos 1, Maconocido 0, Garcia 0, Romero 0, Deles 0, Altamirano 0

Quarterscores: 9-13; 28-30; 45-40; 64-55