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Bombers exact revenge vs Lions after 4 yrs |
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Written by Staff
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Thursday, 24 July 2008 11:30 |
Jose Rizal came into its game against with a simple game plan — fire its three-point guns at will.
With their outside bombs connecting, the Bombers shocked the Lions, 79-74, Wednesday to notch their first victory in four years against the reigning back-to-back champions in Season 84 of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Back in the game, Marc Cagoco blasted away with six booming triples to finish with 18 points while John Wilson buried two of his total three treys in the final minute and 26 seconds to seal the Kalentong-based dribblers their third straight win after dropping their first two matches.
More importantly, the win ended a six-game drought since Jose Rizal trounced San Beda, 74-71, on Aug. 16 four years back.
And by beating the defending titlists, the Bombers felt and celebrated like champions.
“When you beat a champion, you’ll feel you’re also a champion. That’s what we’re feeling right now,” said an ecstatic Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia.
Vanguardia, who had an axe to grind against opposing mentor Frakie Lim after the two had a brush in last season, said it was also a personal victory for him.
“Its sweeter for me personally because they keep saying I couldn’t coach,” he said.
Unlike in their last meeting last season when hard and flagrant fouls came aplenty, Wednesday's game remained physical but without the theatrics as San Beda slightly controlled the pace to go in the break barely ahead, 37-35.
Then the Bombers blasted away, seized a 54-52 at the end of the third period and hiked it to 69-62 with 3.32 minutes remaining.
But a 7-0 blitz capped by a beauty of a three-point play by 2007 NCAA Finals MVP Rogemar Menor off a fast break play knotted the count at 69-all.
Wilson, who kept on firing bricks going into the final stretch, finally found his rhythm and drained a pair of backbreaking triples that quashed whatever fight left in the Lions.
It was San Beda’s first loss after streaking to five straight triumphs.
Letran 67, Mapua Tech 60
In the second game, Mapua Tech found a way to match Letran’s fast-paced game and unflagging full-court trapping defense with a cool press break and sweet perimeter shooting.
It, however, lasted just three quarters.
The Knights took charge in the final quarter by making crucial stops and timely hits as they repulsed the upset-conscious Cardinals, 67-60, to remain the only unbeaten team with six wins.
With game pegged at 61-60 in Letran’s favor, the Knights shut down their Intramuros neighbors in the final 2.24 minutes while going to Kojak Melegrito, Dino Daa and Rey Guevarra to escape with the win that kept their place atop and alone the standings.
Daa and RJ Jazul spewed 17 and 10 points, respectively, but the Muralla-based dribblers drew a lot of support particularly from the high-leaping Guevarra and hard driving Melegrito, who combined for 24 points.
“We got scoring from other sources outside RJ (Jazul) and (Dino) Daa,” that’s the key,” said Letran coach Louia Alas, who is hoping to steer his team to its first title since going all the way three seasons ago.
Ian Mazo led Mapua Tech with 18 points while Allan Mangahas and Neil Pascual scattered 11 and 10 but they couldn’t get the needed production from reigning MVP Kelvin dela Pena, who was held to just five points.
The loss zapped Mapua Tech’s four-game streak for a second loss in six outings.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 24 July 2008 11:32 |
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