Published September 25, 2024 2:37pm
Updated September 25, 2024 3:23pm
In a back-and-forth affair, all Jose Rizal University needed was a late push led by Joshua Guiab, Shawn Argente, and MJ Raymundo to escape Arellano University, 92-89, in NCAA Season 100 on Wednesday.
The troika accounted for the Heavy Bombers’ last 22 points as they secured only their second win in six outings despite the Chiefs’ last-gasp comeback attempt. Arellano, on the other hand, remained on the hunt for an elusive second win as they fell to 1-5.
“It (Arellano’s comeback) is expected. Knowing naman ‘yung brand ng game ng Arellano, it doesn’t matter if they’re winning or they’re down, talagang they’re gonna keep on pushing,” JRU coach Louie Gonzales said.
“Good thing naman na medyo maganda ‘yung separation in the last 50 seconds ng laro. Thank God na we were able to survive that game.”
Raymundo top-scored with 21 points alongside seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal, but it was Guiab and Argente who came up the biggest in the endgame after they fueled a 10-0 blitz that allowed them to erase a 72-70 deficit and establish an eight-point lead in the final 3:51.
The Chiefs continued to rally, leaning on JL Capulong and King Vinoya to pull to within six, 78-84, with 87 seconds left in the game before Guiab fired a booming corner triple then sank two free throws for an 89-78 cushion for JRU.
Vinoya would still bury a long bomb, but he got fouled out with 29.7 seconds, leaving his teammate T-mc Ongotan carrying the fight for the embattled Chiefs.
The shifty guard converted six quick points before an Ernest Geronimo bucket saw Arellano trailing by just two with 7.4 ticks to go, but he was also fouled out that took the fight out of the Chiefs.
Raymundo sealed the deal as the rookie guard split from the line.
Argente fired three three-pointers on the way to a 20-point outing to follow on his 27-point outburst in their previous loss to San Beda while Guiab churned out 18 markers, 15 of which he dropped in the payoff period alone, to go with five rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Ongotan, meanwhile, shone with 20 markers, five boards, and six dimes in the losing cause.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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