JRU tames MIT for joint 2nd

MANILA, Philippines -  Jose Rizal shut down Mapua in the last six minutes and completed a come-from-behind 63-60 victory to tie San Sebastian at second in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Trailing by six points, 54-60, with 5.51 minutes remaining, the Bombers clamped down on defense and forced turnovers and missed shots while scoring nine points to snatch the victory, their eighth against three losses.

“Our defense in the fourth quarter helped us through,” said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses.

Back-up pointguard Ivan Camasura buried a triple that gave Jose Rizal the go-ahead lead with less than two minutes remaining in the contest that was close throughout.

John Lopez scored the game’s final points after another missed offensive thrust by the Cardinals.

Mapua had a chance to send the game into overtime but Gab Banal’s desperation triple at the buzzer bounced off the ring, sending them to their seventh defeat against four wins in a tie for sixth with the resurgent Emilio Aguinaldo Generals and Arellano U Chiefs.

Lopez wound up with 17 points and added six rebounds and four assists while Nate Matute came through with 10 points before sustaining an ankle injury midway in the final period.

Mapua opened the last period with a 9-2 run capped by a pair of charities by Kenneth Ighalo as the Cardinals posted a 60-54 lead.

But it proved to be Mapua’s last surge as they went scoreless the rest of the way while the Bombers regain their bearing and shooting touch to turn the game around.

Ralph Monserrat came through with back-to-back baskets and Camasura hit his lone basket – the go-ahead triple – before Lopez iced the win with a drive in transition.

The tight match featured a league-high 16 lead changes and five deadlocks.

In the nightcap, Letran survived Perpetual Help, 62-57, to improve to 6-5 and remain just one game behind its victim, which fell to 7-4.

Kevin Alas saved his best for last, firing nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory for the Knights, who recovered from a third quarter slump and overcame Jett Vidal’s 16-point explosion.