By REYNALD MAGALLON
Ry Dela Rosa delivered when it mattered most by burying back-to-back triples in the waning minutes to help Jose Rizal University stave off Arellano, 79-74, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil-EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Sunday, Oct. 29.
Struggling all-game long, Dela Rosa came up huge in the last two minutes with the crucial baskets to push the Heavy Bombers ahead for good and clinch their eighth win against four losses.
Things were actually looking bleak for JRU after staring at a four-point deficit before Dela Rosa took over and made it a 76-74 affair with 1:21 left. The Heavy Bombers then just kept the Chiefs at bay from there to seal the deal.
Jonathan Medina led the way for JRU with 16 points while Patrick Ramos added 15 points. Dela Rosa followed up his 19-point performance against San Sebastian with 12 points.
Joshua Guian also had his share for the Bombers with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, stepping up in the absence of big man Marwin Dionisio.
With both teams coming off from big wins last time out, the games as expected turned out to be a grindout affair. Both teams were tied 62-apiece at the end of three quarters before Arellano, behind the efforts of Jade Talampas, unloaded a 7-2 spurt that established a 69-64 cushion.
Both teams traded baskets as the Chiefs kept a 74-70 lead until Dela Rosa took over for the Heavy Bombers.
Talampas starred for Arellano with 19 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal in an all-around effort that went down the drain as the Chiefs slid to a 2-9 record.
In the second game, San Sebastian took down San Beda, 75-67 to snap a four-game losing streak.
Reggz Gabat showed the way with 18 points while Rommel Calahat added 16 as the Stags improved to a 4-8 record while sending the Red Lions reeling to a 7-4 slate.
