JRU, San Beda, AMA book Fr. Martin Cup wins

MANILA, Philippines – The Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, the San Beda Red Cubs and the AMA Junior Titans pulled of convincing victories over the weekend to keep their quarterfinal and semifinal bids alive in the13th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at the Far Eastern University gymnasium in Morayta, Manila.

The Heavy Bombers, led by Jeb Mendoza with 30 points, repulsed the Arellano University Chiefs, 87-82, to post their third win in six games, and stay on course for a quarterfinal slot in Group A of the senior division.

It was  second consecutive triumph after JRU, with Mendoza making 17 points, earlier pulled off a 61-54 beating of the Gilas Pilipinas under-16 national youth team, which drew 10 points from Jason Credo.

Kerby Escoto drilled in 17 points for the Junior Titans in their 86-52 demolition of St. Michael-Laguna, and this allowed them to sweep eight-game assignment, and claim a semis berth in Group A.

Lance Jomalesa banged in 21 points for the Red Cubs, who smothered UNO High School, 114-47, to improve their slate to 5-2 in Group A of the junior action, and this put them contention for the semis, according to commissioner Robert de la Rosa.

Jomalesa earlier scored 12 points in leading the Red Cubs to a 67-66 win over St. Michael.

In other games, Joed Canapate struck from underneath in the last five seconds, and he carried St. Michael of Laguna to their first win in four games over Mary the Queen College, 67-66

The other week, Robert Bolick topscored for 21 points for early quarterfinalist San Beda-A, which won over St. Michael-Laguna, 69-33, while San Beda-B turned back the San Sebastian Staglets, 71-53,  in the senior action.

In the juniors, Xander Fernandez knocked in 17 points as the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas prevailed over San Benildo, 60-56.

Wayne de Leon made 20 points for the Lyceum Junior Pirates as they swamped the San Sebastian Staglets, 88-66.