Paniamogan's huge 4th quarter powers Bombers over Knights

Games Wednesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

12 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs St. Benilde (jrs/srs)

4 p.m. – San Sebastian vs EAC (srs/jrs)

MANILA, Philippines – Jose Rizal leaned on Philip Paniamogan's fourth quarter explosion as it turned back last year's runner up Letran, 69-60, to jump to solo fifth spot in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Monday.

After a jittery start, Paniamogan found his rhythm in the second half where he erupted for 21 of his game-high 22 points, including 14 in the final canto when the Bombers made the decisive run to seal their second straight win in four starts.

"I kept telling him (Paniamogan) his role, which is to find his sports and not hurry his shots too much," said Jose Rizal coach Vergel Meneses.

Paniamogan's shot from way beyond the arc gave the Kalentong-based dribblers a 54-50 lead, but Kevin Racal knocked in a pair of 3-pointers himself to grab the lead back for the Knights, 56-54, with about three minutes to go.

Paniamogan, a native of Cagayan de Oro City, then turned into a man possessed and scored all but four of his team's final 15 points to seal the deal and send Letran to its third defeat against a win.

There were some anxious moments though as Letran coach Caloy Garcia was ejected for receiving his second technical foul for continuous complaining late in regulation and co-captain Mark Cruz charging into referee Ian Borbe after the game before he was pushed back by assistant coach Mike Buendia.

Seconds later, Borbe was caught giving a dirty finger to a fan after the latter threw a crumpled paper into the former when he was heading into the technical committee room.

Garcia, when interviewed, said he has been complaining against Borbe since last year.

"We've filed many complaints against Borbe since last year. We can't get calls from him," said Garcia. "It's okay to lose a game as long as the referees call it fairly."

Garcia also accused Borbe of threatening to punch Cruz.

"I wasn't there because I was ejected already. But Mark told me Borbe threatened to punch him," he said.

Both Garcia and Cruz could face suspensions for their unsportsmanlike acts.

Paniamogan got help from John Grospe, Jaycee Asuncion and Bernabe Teodoro, who scattered 10 points apiece, and Ghanan import Abdul Razak Abdul Wahab, who chipped in just three points but he had a game-best 15 boards and a block in one spectacular defensive job.

Teodoro, for his part, was all over the court as he spiked his scoring with six assists and five rebounds.

The scores:

Jose Rizal 69 – Paniamogan 22, Grospe 10, Teodoro 10, Asuncion 10, Sanchez 4, Salaveria 4, Mabulac 4, Abdul Wahab 3, Lasquety 0, Benavides 0

Letran 60 – Cruz 19, Racal 17, Ruaya 9, Nambatac 6, Singontiko 5, Quinto 2, Publico 2, Castro 0, Tambeling 0, Luib 0, Gabawan 0

Quarterscores: 14-all; 31-24; 45-48; 69-60