Jed Mendoza fired 16 points for the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers as they got back on the winning track on Tuesday evening at the Arena in San Juan.
But it was Teytey Teodoro’s leadership in the fourth period that keyed in the Heavy Bombers’ 90-77 stopping of the College of St. Benilde Blazers.
Firing a total of 16 points, Teodoro made nine of it in the final period to power the Heavy Bombers to their first win after two straight losses in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.
Ervin Grospe added 14 for the Heavy Bombers who now have a total of nine wins and six losses in third place.
This kept them a win ahead of the Letran Knights(8-7), who are also after the no. 3 seeding in the Final Four, just like JRU.
“Maganda itong panalo sa amin. Nasisilip na namin,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses on their chance of getting the no. 3 seeding.
The Blazers got close, 61-67, in the start of the fourth period off Kendrix Belgica’s inside play.
But Teodoro’s timely triple came after Mendoza’s layup, and this touched off an 11-3 run that gave JRU a 78-64 cushion.
The Blazers, starring Clement Lentcheu with 25, last led, 28-25, off Dino San Juan’s three-point play in the second period.
After that, counterattack led by Mark de la Virgen with two treys put JRU ahead, 39-28.