ARELLANO University rode on the shoulders of Jio Jalalon’s fourth quarter explosion as it overcame Lyceum of the Philippines University, 78-75, and then watched Jose Rizal stun San Beda, 97-88, Monday to seize the solo lead in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
Jalalon unleashed 33 points, 15 of which he dropped in the fourth quarter when the Chiefs turned a three-point deficit in the final minutes into their 11th victory against three defeats to jump to the top.
Jose Rizal later gave Arellano University a free ride to the top after it brought down a Donald Tankoua-less San Beda to complete a rare elimination round sweep of the latter.
Teytey Teodoro sizzled with a game-best 28 points while spitfire guard Mark dela Virgen went hot by churning out a career-high 20 points as the Bombers copped their ninth win against six defeats, or just a shade behind No. 4 Mapua (8-5).
The loss sent San Beda spiralling down to third with an 11-4 card behind Perpetual Help, which zoomed to No. 2 with a 10-3 mark.
The Bombers’ triumph came after the NCAA Management Committee, which was chaired by Jose Mari Lacson of host San Beda, denied the protest they filed seeking a replay of their 60-63 defeat to Emilio Aguinaldo on Aug. 30.
The Kalentong-based dribblers were contending that there was still two-tenths of a second left when EAC’s Remy Morada fouled Jose Rizal’s Teytey Teodoro when the latter was attempting a three-point shot.
But after a series of video replays, the referees decided the foul came after time expired, thus nullifying Morada’s foul.
Games Thursday
(The Arena, San Juan)
10 a.m.- St. Benilde vs LPU (jrs)
12 nn.- Letran vs San Beda (jrs)
2 p.m.- EAC vs Mapua (srs)
4 p.m.- St. Benilde vs San Sebastian (srs)