Games Monday (Astrodome)

12 noon – SSC-R vs JRU (jrs)

2 p.m. – CSB vs SBC (jrs)

 

Ace guard RJ Jazul helped Letran earn a at least a playoff berth in the Final Four with a hard-earned 60-54 win over also-ran Philippine Christian University in the 84^th NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

The 5-foot-11 Jazul scored 20 points, including six in the Knights’ 10-1 run in the last three minutes, which kept the Dolphins from scoring a major shocker.

“It was all struggle in the first 37 minutes. Good thing nag-click ang defense namin, forcing PCU to three turnovers in the last three minutes,” said Letran mentor Louie Alas.

The win improved the Intramuros-based dribblers’ record to 9-4. They will play back-to-back champion and arch nemesis San Beda College (10-3) on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

In the second senior’s game, host Mapua downed Jose Rizal University 72-61, to earn at least a playoff berth in the semifinals.

Rookie guard Allan Mangahas, who suffered a sprained right ankle late in the third, exploded for 22 points, 12 coming in the final frame while adding five rebounds, six assists and four steals.

The Cardinals’ win forced a three-way tie with their victim, the Heavy Bombers and the Stags of San Sebastian College-Recoletos all finishing the elimination phase with 9-5 cards.

The Knights played without suspended forward Dino Daa, and missed wingman Rey Guevarra in the final stretch after he fouled out in the last 4:52.

Then Jazul took matters into his own hands.

He spearheaded Letran’s late assault, where his difficult drive off Junar Arce gave them the first taste of the lead, 56-54, with 2:38 remaining.

The Dolphins tried to tie the count in the next play but Dennis San Pedro lost control of the leather while driving to the basket. Jazul sealed the win for the Knights by scoring four free throws in the last 17.8 seconds

PCU, who led by as much as 12 early in the game, ended their comeback from a one-year hiatus with a 3-11 card in seventh place.

In the juniors division, 6-foot-1 Keith Agovida shattered a three-decade old league-record by banging in 82 points as Jose Rizal crushed Mapua Red Robins, 127-49.

The 18-year old Agovida shot 36-of-50 from the field and 10-of-16 from the foul line to lift the Light Bombers in clinching the third semis berth with a 7-4 mark.

Agovida broke the old record of 71 points by Erwin Bola-Bola of the Letran Squires in the late 70s.

Roi Sumang scored 21 markers as Letran brought the San Beda Red Cubs in the brink of elimination with a 65-61 win for a 9-3 record.

 

The Scores:

 

First Game (Jrs)

Letran (65) – Sumang 21, Tampus 13, Khobuntin 10, Alas 10, Reyes 5, Ongtenco 2, Roxas 2, Saitarapan 2.

San Beda (61) – Ludovive 14, Magat K. 14, Ayala 11, Mozo 9, Dela Cruz 8, Amin 3, Moralde 2, Magat M. 0, Feliciano 0, Verzosa 0.

QS: 22-12; 34-32; 50-50; 65-61.

 

Second Game (Jrs)

Jose Rizal (127) – Agovida 82, Madlangbayan 15, Vigil 11, Saret 6, Lontoc 5, Villena 4, Oliveria 2, Yasa 2, Barranco 0, Mathias 0, Chua 0, Regis 0, Vital 0.

Mapua (49) – Domingo 19, Alejandro 13, Basas 10, Sevilla 4, Pobre 2, Abad 1, Roxas 0, Targa 0, Espiritu 0, Castillo 0, Reyes 0.

QS: 35-8; 62-20; 91-39; 127-49.

 

Third Game (Srs)

Letran (60) – Jazul 20, Melegrito 13, Foronda 10, Cortes 5, Belencion 5, Guevarra 3, Del Rosario 2, Ranises 2, Latonio 0.

PCU (54) – Gomez 11, McCoy 11, Siruma 9, San Pedro 6, Vidal 6, Busa 5, Allen 3, Arce 2, Amparado 1, Sumera 0, Asuncion 0.

QS: 7-12; 19-28; 37-40; 60-54.

 

Fourth Game

Mapua (72) – Mangahas 22, dela Pena 18, Pascual N. 12, Banal 11, Mazo 5, Pascual J. 2, Soriano 2, Sarangay 0, Acosta 0, Palomique 0, Cornejo 0 Cinco 0, Ranises 0, Espinosa 0, Guillermo 0.

JRU (61) – Hayes 19, Pradas 11, Nocom 9, Wilso 6, Sena 6, Njei 5, Cagoco 3, Agas 2,Bulangis 0, Matute 0, Almario 0, Kabigting 0, Apinan 0, Lopez 0, Montemayor 0.

QS: 18-16; 35-31; 54-46; 72-61.