Marwin Dionisio and Agem Miranda provided the finishing touches as the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers held off the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 69-63, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center.
Miranda and Dionisio struck with 16 and 13 points in leading the Heavy Bombers to their fourth win in 11 games in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.
The two figured in a 7-2 run in the remaining five minutes, and their efforts allowed the the Heavy Bombers to keep their hopes alive in the Final Four semifinals.
“Pero this game, yung closing ng laro yung wala namin. We really lost bad sa last games namin with Mapua, Saint Benilde, and Letran,” said JRU coach Louie Gonzalez.
Noah Lugo hit 31 points as the Mapua Cardinals turned back the Letran Knights in overtime, 105-101, in the second game of the day.
The Cardinals hiked their record to 5-6, while the Knights now have a 7-4 slate in fourth place.
The scoring which Dionisio and Miranda started saw JRU holding on to a 67-58 going into the final 24 seconds of the game.
The Generals, with JP Maguliano making 16 points, fell to their ninth straight setback at 1-10.
In the junior division, the Letran Squires fought their way out of a seven-point deficit in the last two minutes to stop Malayan Red Robins, 82-78.
Andrei Romenez and CJ Saure made 16 points for the Squires, who hiked their slate to 5-6.
Romenez, Saure,Joshua Ramirez, and Shawn Umali converted from the perimeter with 1:32 remaining, and led a 15-4 rally that gave the Squires a chance to overcome a 67-74 deficit.
“Sinabihan ko lang silang kailangan nating mag-stick sa sistema natin. Matagal pa yun e so kailangan lang buo loob namin,” said Squires coach Raymund Valenzona.
The JRU Light Bombers drew 14 points from Jonathan Mendoza and Vince Icban in upending the EAC Brigadiers, 78-57, to move to solo fourth with their 6-5 card.