KENT Salado tallied 22 points and six rebounds for the Arellano University Chiefs as they frustrated the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 79-68, at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.
Jiovani Jalalon chipped in 18 points, 11 assists and six rebounds while Flores posted seven points and 11 rebounds for the Chiefs who fortified their grip of the top spot and the no. 1 seed in the Final Four of the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament with their 13-3 slate.
This brought the Chiefs a win closer to a twice-to-beat advantage for the next round.
Lervin Flores posted seven points and 11 rebounds, with his two-handed slam coming at the end of a 10-4 finishing run which widened Arellano’s five-point advantage to 11 at the buzzer.
Paolo Pontejos did his best for the Heavy Bombers with 24 points, dishing out six unanswered points to bring JRU with range, 64-69, with 2:23 remaining.
“The players were focused from start to finish. We expected the (JRU) rally. But I told the players, ‘Hang in there,’” said Chiefs coach Jerry Codinera.
The Chiefs are gunning for a twice-to-beat advantage for the next round.
Meanwhile, Reymar Caduyac and Cameroonian big man Harry Nzeusseu struck hard for the Lyceum Pirates as they stopped the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 64-61.
Their big plays with less than two minutes left kept the Altas from getting the last Final Four semifinals slot.
Caduyac broke a 61-all tie with 1:16 left off his split charity.
The Altas could have scored in the next play, but Bright Akhuetie was forced to commit a turnover.
They never got possession back, and Nzeusseu went on to convert three of his four free throw attempts in the last 1.4 seconds.
Caduyac finished with 15 points while Nzeusseu had 11 points and 15 rebounds. Akhuetie scored a game-high 21 points for the Altas.
The Pirates, who had nothing at stake, hiked their win-loss record to 6-11.
“Pretty much the only reason the games still have bearing for us is we’re preparing for the next season,” said Pirates coach Topex Robinson.
The Altas fell behind with their 11-5 slate, and this gave the Mapua Cardinals high hopes to catch up with their 9-5 card.
Their fate now depend on the outcome of their matches against the San Beda Red Lions and the Cardinals.
In the third game of the day, Alwell Oraeme made 21 points and 26 rebounds as the Mapua Cardinals ousted the defending champion Letran Knights from the Final Four race, 77-72.
The Cardinals needed a 5-0 run behind Darren Menina and CJ Isit to finally overcome the Knights following a 67-all deadlock in the last 1:37.
It was over for the Knights after Menina scored two charities in the 5.3 seconds, finalizing the count for the Cardinals, who claimed their 10th win in 15 games.
The Knights now have an 8-9 card.
Games Thursday
(Junior Basketball at the Arena in San Juan)
9 a.m. Lyceum vs JRU
10:45 a.m. LSGH vs San Beda
12:30 p.m. Arellano vs Mapua
2:15 p.m. Letran vs San Sebastian
4 p.m. EAC vs UPHSD